Uruguayan President Jose Mujica confirms he will take Guantanamo prisoners

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Uruguayan President Jose Mujica confirmed Friday his country will take six Guantanamo prisoners who have not been charged with any crimes.

Mujica says Guantanamo is not a prison but a "nest of kidnapping," as he believes the six prisoners in question should have been charged with a crime and put before a court.

Mujica offered to take the prisoners in March. He was once a prisoner himself for over a decade, having been a captured Guerrilla army leader in the 1970s, and he sympathizes with prisoners facing what he sees as injustice.

It has been reported the prisoners will likely arrive on Tuesday, but Mujica has not confirmed their arrival date.

Over 172 Guantanamo prisoners have been cleared for a transfer but have not yet been moved.

Mujica is well known for his decision to legalize marijuana in the country and his liberal views on gay marriage and abortion. He will be succeeded by recently re-elected former President Tabare Vazquez, who is a politician of the same political party.