Guantanamo inmates to be sent to Illinois prison
Published:Tuesday | December 15, 2009 | 6:40 PM
US President Barack Obama has ordered the federal government to buy a prison in Illinois to house a number of inmates from Guantanamo Bay.
The move is a key part of Mr Obama\'s plan to close the detention centre in Cuba.
The number of inmates for transfer to the Thomson Correctional Center has not officially been given, but US media report that it could be between 35 and 90.
Senior officials say security will be upgraded, making the Thomson Correctional facility, the most secure jail in the country.
The Obama administration has said closing Guantanamo Bay is essential in removing a key al-Qaeda recruiting tool.
The US president had given himself one year to close the facility but admitted last month that a January 22 deadline will have to be pushed to later in 2010.