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Obama Renews Vow To Close Guantanamo


U.S. President Barack Obama
U.S. President Barack Obama
U.S. President Barack Obama has renewed an old promise to close the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

His comments on April 30 come with about 100 inmates at Guantanamo on hunger strike and the U.S. military force-feeding some of them.

Obama defended this action, saying he didn't want to see any of the detainees die.

Reacting to Obama's pledge, Amnesty International called for action not words.

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Forty extra medical personnel have been sent to Guantanamo to deal with the hunger strike.

The detention center was set up in 2002 to hold foreign terrorism suspects. It now holds 166 detainees.

Obama has approved military tribunals to try some of the most dangerous suspects, but only nine of the current prisoners have been charged or convicted of crimes.

Based on reporting by AP, and Reuters

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