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US jail to house Guantanamo men US jail to house Guantanamo men
(about 4 hours later)
A number of inmates from the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay are to be transferred to an Illinois prison, a US official has said. US President Barack Obama has ordered the federal government to buy a prison in Illinois to take a number of inmates from Guantanamo Bay.
The Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Illinois, will house between 35 and 90 detainees, US media report. The move is a key part of Mr Obama's plan to close the Cuba-based centre.
The official said closing Guantanamo detention centre was "essential" to remove a key al-Qaeda recruiting tool. The number of inmates for transfer to the Thomson Correctional Center has not officially been given but US media report it could be between 35 and 90.
President Barack Obama has pledged to close the Cuba-based camp and had given himself one year to achieve this. US officials say closing Guantanamo Bay is "essential" in removing a key al-Qaeda recruiting tool.
However, with officials still trying to work out what to do with about 215 inmates still at the camp, he admitted in November that a 22 January deadline had slipped to later in 2010. Mr Obama had given himself one year to achieve this but with officials still trying to work out what to do with about 215 inmates at the camp, he admitted in November that a 22 January deadline had slipped to later in 2010.
'Step forward''Step forward'
"Today's announcement is an important step forward as we work to achieve our national security objective," a US official said in a statement. A letter signed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Robert Gates says: "The president has directed, with our unanimous support, that the federal government proceed with the acquisition of the facility in Thomson."
"Closing the detention centre at Guantanamo is essential to protecting our national security and helping our troops by removing a deadly recruiting tool from the hands of al-Qaeda." A briefing by senior administration officials said the move represented "an important step to achieve our national security objectives"
Thomson would "go beyond even maximum security prison standards".
THOMSON CORRECTIONAL CENTER Built 2001Adult male prison Only minimum-security section operatingNo date for opening maximum-security sectionMaximum-security capacity: 1,600Minimum-security capacity: 200Average daily population: 144 Source: Illinois Department of Corrections Illinois' Thomson jailTHOMSON CORRECTIONAL CENTER Built 2001Adult male prison Only minimum-security section operatingNo date for opening maximum-security sectionMaximum-security capacity: 1,600Minimum-security capacity: 200Average daily population: 144 Source: Illinois Department of Corrections Illinois' Thomson jail
The White House is expected to make an official announcement confirming the decision later on Tuesday. The Clinton/Gates letter also says: "The president has no intention of releasing any detainees in the United States."
Another letter, from Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to Congress and obtained by Associated Press, says a detainee will be treated as though he is at the border trying to obtain entry but will not do so.
Earlier, a senior US official said: "Closing the detention centre at Guantanamo is essential to protecting our national security and helping our troops by removing a deadly recruiting tool from the hands of al-Qaeda."
The BBC's Adam Brookes, in Washington, says that the prison transfer might go some way to addressing the problem of Guantanamo but it will not solve it.The BBC's Adam Brookes, in Washington, says that the prison transfer might go some way to addressing the problem of Guantanamo but it will not solve it.
Our correspondent adds that European nations - who have until now taken the attitude that if the US will not house the detainees, they will not either - may be softening their stance to accept small numbers of prisoners.Our correspondent adds that European nations - who have until now taken the attitude that if the US will not house the detainees, they will not either - may be softening their stance to accept small numbers of prisoners.
The near-empty Thomson prison, about 150 miles (240km) from Chicago, was promoted as an alternative by Illinois Senator Richard Durbin.The near-empty Thomson prison, about 150 miles (240km) from Chicago, was promoted as an alternative by Illinois Senator Richard Durbin.
The prison, built in 2001, has the capacity for 1,600 inmates, but due to budget constraints only houses 200 prisoners.The prison, built in 2001, has the capacity for 1,600 inmates, but due to budget constraints only houses 200 prisoners.
It would be sold to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and then part of it leased to the Department of Defense, reports say.It would be sold to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and then part of it leased to the Department of Defense, reports say.
Federal prisoners would be held at the facility, as well as the former Guantanamo inmates, officials said.Federal prisoners would be held at the facility, as well as the former Guantanamo inmates, officials said.
Of the remaining Guantanamo inmates, some are expected to be sent to other countries, while others could face military tribunals or be tried in US courts.Of the remaining Guantanamo inmates, some are expected to be sent to other countries, while others could face military tribunals or be tried in US courts.
Prisons in Colorado, Montana and elsewhere in Illinois had expressed an interest in housing Guantanamo inmates.Prisons in Colorado, Montana and elsewhere in Illinois had expressed an interest in housing Guantanamo inmates.