Germany mulls accepting Gitmo detainees

BERLIN, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Germany says it is willing to consider accepting some of the terrorism suspects being held at the U.S. military prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Deputy government spokesman Thomas Steg said Monday that Germany strongly backs efforts by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to close the controversial detention facility, and that Berlin is considering accepting some "illegal combatants" who do not want to return to their home countries, the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported.

"In our view Guantanamo must be closed on legal and humanitarian grounds, in terms of international law and human rights, and for moral reasons," Steg told reporters in Berlin. "We would need to, and want to, examine this issue when the United States has made clear what its specific plans and time line are."

But, he added, any moves to accept Guantanamo detainees "can only be in a European context based on a discussion with all member states," saying Germany would reject any "side deals, swaps or conditions" attempted by Washington linked to handing over detainees.