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Karzai Urges Obama To Close Guantanamo


The exterior of Camp Delta at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay
The exterior of Camp Delta at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has again called for the United States to close down its detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Karzai was speaking to journalists on May 2 during a visit to Denmark.

He said Kabul has asked the United States to release the Afghan prisoners being held at Guantanamo, saying Afghanistan has been "engaged" with both Washington and the UN on the issue for several years.

About 100 of the 166 prisoners at Guantanamo are currently on a hunger strike.

Karzai urged the United States to apply "humanitarian considerations" in dealing with the protest.

U.S. President Barack Obama pledged during his first presidential campaign to close the facility but has not been able to do so.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP

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