Call to Close Guantanamo

Speaking after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Austria, Denmark’s Per Stig Möller said the envoys agreed that the United States should close the detention camp as soon as possible. Swedish Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson said the abuses at Guantanamo are a continuing cause for concern.

Eliasson called on the US in its fight against terrorism to respect international law and human rights. The issue is expected to come up when American President George Bush visits Vienna in late June for an EU-US summit.

European politicians and human rights groups have repeatedly called on the United States to either free the Guantanamo prisoners or put them on trial.