U.K. urged to take in Gitmo inmates

LONDON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Britain's former attorney general says his country should take custody of some Guantanamo Bay terrorist suspects so the U.S. prison in Cuba can be closed.

Lord Peter Goldsmith told The Times of London the detention center set up after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States was damaging the reputation of the West and London should take some of the inmates to facilitate its eventual closure.

Lord Goldsmith, who was attorney general for Prime Minister Tony Blair, said in a BBC radio interview that other nations should pitch in and help relocate suspects so that incoming U.S. President Barack Obama will be able to phase out operations at "Gitmo."

The Times of London reported Saturday he was aware of public sentiment that Guantanamo was a U.S. problem; however, he concluded the prison was a "symbol of injustice" and it would be in Britain's interest to assist in its closure.