The Guantanamo Bay prison camp is being "well run" but that won't deter the Obama administration from its goal of closing the controversial facility within a year, the top US law enforcement officer said Wednesday, dpa reported.
Attorney General Eric Holder spoke to reporters about Guantanamo two days after visiting the US naval installation in the remote eastern corner of Cuba, and said he was "impressed" with the management of the prison.
"But I think it does not in any way decrease our determination to close the facility, even though, as I said, I think it is being well run now," Holder said.
"I was impressed by the people who are presently running the camp," he said.
While Holder was in Guantanamo Monday, the Pentagon released a report that found conditions at the detention centre meet the humane treatment standards outlined by the Geneva Conventions, but noted there is still room for improvement.
Navy Admiral Patrick Walsh told reporters Monday that the prison's operators could do more to improve mental-health conditions by allowing for more recreational time and more interaction among inmates.
Two days after taking office in January, President Barack Obama issued a directive to close the controversial prison camp within a year and to review the cases of the 245 detainees. The review will determine whether to release, prosecute or continue to hold certain detainees.
Guantanamo has been the target of abuse and torture allegations since it opened seven years ago to house prisoners in the war on terrorism. Walsh's review did not look into past accusations of abuse.
The Pentagon said Wednesday that Defence Secretary Robert Gates has ordered a 30-day review to determine how to implement Walsh's recommendations.
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