Senate Votes Against Gitmo Detainee Transfer to U.S.

Kate Yule
Wednesday, May 20, 2009

U.S. President Barack Obama’s plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba has hit a major setback.

The Senate has voted 90-6 to keep detainees held at the centre from being transferred to the United States.

Their vote comes just a day before Obama’s planned speech outlining his plan for closing the facility.

An Obama administration official says members of Congress need to rethink their stance on the issue.

The president put his Democratic allies in a difficult position by requesting $80 million to help close the Guantanamo facility before developing a plan for what to do with the detainees. Last week, the House of Representatives denied the funds.

Toronto-born Omar Khadr is among those being held at the military prison in Cuba