Portugal offers to take Guantanamo detainees
Saturday, 13 December 2008
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America is welcoming Portugal's offer to take in detainees from Guantanamo bay.
A number of US diplomats have welcomed the move, saying it will bring America closer to its goal of permanently closing the offshore military centre.
The US needs to find sanctuary destinations for the 250 prisoners before it can release them, as many would face persecution and torture if they returned to their native countries such as China, Algeria or Syria.
The US says it will need Europe's help if it is to shut down the prison, but so far Algeria and Portugal are the only two countries to offer.
