Uruguay asks U.S. to free Cubans in return for Guantanamo transfer

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Uruguay asks U.S. to free Cubans in return for Guantanamo transfer

MONTEVIDEO Fri Mar 21, 2014 1:11pm EDT

(Reuters) - Uruguay has asked the United States to free Cuban prisoners as a gesture in return for the South American country agreeing to accept detainees from the much-criticized Guantanamo detention center, President Jose Mujica said on Friday.

Uruguay said on Thursday that at Washington's request it would take some inmates from the U.S. military base of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which has been used since 2002 to hold people captured after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Mujica said in his weekly radio broadcast on Friday that he had asked for Cubans on U.S. soil to be released in exchange.

"We're not embarrassed to say that we asked the North American government if they would please do what they could because those two or three Cuban prisoners, they have been there many years, a way is being sought to free them, because that is also shameworthy," said Mujica.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/21/us-uruguay-guantanamo-idUSBREA2K1I120140321

[Judi Lynn]

1. This is a very decent, civilized offer Pres. Mujica has made.

Let's hope the U.S. authorities will have the decency to do the right thing here.