Report: Canada snubs U.S. on detainees

OTTAWA, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Canada has turned a deaf ear to U.S. requests it consider taking in terror suspects held at the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Toronto Star reports.

Citing an unnamed White House adviser, the newspaper said Sunday the Canadian government this year, without explanation, abruptly stopped talking to members of a U.S. task force seeking new homes for the Guantanamo prisoners.

The revelation came as a Canadian detainee, Omar Khadr, was undergoing a hearing at the U.S. facility. The anonymous official said task force members learned of Canada's decision through a press release issued by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"I just found it puzzling," there were no phone calls or diplomatic meetings, the official told the Star. "A public rejection was odd. We're still hoping Canada will help. We can't do this alone."

The newspaper said the official asserted the Canadian government had met with U.S. Special Envoy Daniel Fried this spring about possibly accepting detainees, and the President Barack Obama's task force was told that the meeting had been "promising." But Harper's office told journalists only a week later that Canada would not accept any Guantanamo detainees.

Harper spokesman Dimitri Soudas said the government's policy has always been consistent on not accepting Guantanamo detainees.

About 221 detainees remain at Guantanamo, perhaps 65 of whom may face military trials, The Miami Herald reported. Obama has set a Jan. 22 deadline to close the facility.