US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has ordered aides to begin drawing up a plan to close the prison for suspects in the war on terrorism at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Pentagon said Thursday, dpa reported.
Gates wants to be prepared to move quickly if president-elect Barack Obama, who has pledged to close Guantanamo, makes it an earlier priority after taking office on January 20, spokesman Geoff Morrell said.
"He has asked his team for a proposal on how to shut it down, what would be required specifically to close it and move the detainees from that facility," Morrell said.