'Shut Guantanamo in 100 days'

2008-10-30 22:16

Athens - The head of Amnesty International on Thursday called for the next president of the United States to close the country's detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within 100 days of his inauguration.

Irene Khan cited statements by candidates Barack Obama and John McCain condemning the torture of terrorism suspects.

"Both candidates have said that they will look into the closure of Guantanamo," Khan said.

"We certainly hope they will pay attention to it in the first 100 days."

Amnesty has long called for Guantanamo to be closed, but Khan's statement on Thursday was the first time the human rights group had demanded it be closed in the first 100 days of the new administration.

She made the statements to The Associated Press and other news agencies outside an international conference on corruption in Athens, Greece.

'Right the wrongs of the war on terror'

"We are calling on the new administration to focus towards righting some of the wrongs of the war on terror, close Guantanamo, expose the whole issue of secret detention, and condemn torture, but also to set up accountability measures," Khan said.

She added: "I'm optimistic that, whichever candidate wins, will give very serious attention to work towards restoring the United States as a human rights champion around the world and at home."

- AP