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Doctors urge access to Guantanamo hunger strikers

Agence France-PresseJune 19, 2013 22:39
More than 150 doctors from the United States and Britain have written to President Barack Obama urging him to grant independent medical care to hunger-striking Guantanamo detainees. A prominent US senator who visited the facility earlier this month meanwhile called for a reevaluation of force-feeding procedures at the military prison, saying current methods raise "ethical questions." The hunger strike, which began more than four months ago, is meant to protest the inmates' indefinite detention at the facility even though more than half have been cleared for release.

Doctors urge access to Guantanamo hunger strikers

Agence France-PresseJune 19, 2013 12:33
More than 150 doctors from the United States and Britain have written to President Barack Obama urging him to grant independent medical care to hunger-striking Guantanamo detainees. The hunger strike, which began more than four months ago, is meant to protest the inmates' indefinite detention at the military facility even though more than half have been cleared for release.

Obama says U.S. to redouble efforts to close Guantanamo

June 19, 2013 08:04
BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Wednesday the United States would step up its attempts to close Guantanamo Bay prison. "Even as we remain vigilant about the threat of terrorism, we must move beyond the mindset of perpetual war and in America that means redoubling our efforts to close the prison at Guantanamo," Obama said in a speech in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.

US names lawyer to help close Guantanamo jail

Agence France-PresseJune 17, 2013 17:01
The United States on Monday appointed a lawyer as its new pointman for the tough task of trying to close down the notorious Guantanamo Bay military jail in southern Cuba. Cliff Sloan, said to be a long-time friend of US Secretary of State John Kerry, will lead the effort which has been given new impetus since President Barack Obama last month renewed his pledge to shutter the prison. His appointment shows the US "commitment to closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay," said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

Demos demand Obama free Yemenis held in Guantanamo

Agence France-PresseJune 17, 2013 13:00
Relatives of Yemenis being held at the US Guantanamo Bay detention centre protested outside Washington's mission in Sanaa on Monday, calling on US President Barack Obama to free the detainees. "Freedom, freedom for the detainees!," chanted dozens of protesters, some dressed in orange -- the colour of jumpsuits worn by Guantanamo Bay prisoners. Four American activists, including anti-war activist Madea Benjamin, took part in the demonstration, an AFP reporter said.

Senators, senior Obama aide vow to close Guantanamo prison

June 8, 2013 01:24
By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's chief of staff and two leading U.S. senators said on Friday they were determined to come up with a plan to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which would fulfill Obama's five-year-old campaign promise.

Factbox: Obama outlines steps toward closing Guantanamo prison

May 23, 2013 22:45
(Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama outlined steps on Thursday aimed at the eventual closure of the Guantanamo Bay military prison. Following are some facts about the detention operation at the U.S. Naval base in eastern Cuba: * The United States set up the prison after U.S.-led forces invaded Afghanistan in pursuit the al Qaeda network behind the hijacked plane attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, the Pentagon and rural Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.

Guantanamo prisoners tune in for Obama's speech on their fate

May 23, 2013 21:02
By Jane Sutton MIAMI (Reuters) - Among those tuning in to President Barack Obama's national security speech on Thursday were some prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, who rely on television broadcasts and newspapers for hints about their fate. "Detainees follow all coverage of Guantanamo closely, including today's speech, and the post-speech commentary, analysis and editorials," said Navy Captain Robert Durand, a spokesman for the Guantanamo detention operation.

Obama discusses drone strikes, presents plan for closing Guantanamo

Agencia EFEMay 23, 2013 20:32
Washington, May 23 (EFE).- U.S. President Barack Obama committed himself Thursday to providing more transparency in counterterrorism operations using drones and presented a new plan to close the prison at Guantanamo. In a speech at the National Defense University on the outskirts of Washington, Obama extended a hand to the Muslim community to prevent violent extremism and supported the idea of the United States no longer being in "continual warfare" against terrorism.

U.S. military lawyers put more pressure on Guantanamo

May 22, 2013 20:48
By Jane Sutton MIAMI (Reuters) - Military and civilian lawyers for prisoners at the Guantanamo naval base urged U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to improve conditions for detainees, putting more pressure on the Obama administration to make good its promise to close the camp. The plea from 18 lawyers representing "high-value" prisoners came before a speech by President Barack Obama on Thursday when he will address counterterrorism measures such as drone strikes and closing Guantanamo.
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