7:08pm UK, Wednesday May 20, 2009

US Senators have blocked Barack Obama’s plans to shut down Guantanamo Bay and transfer detainees to America.

President Obama wants to close Guantanamo Bay by January 2010

The President wanted $80m (£51m) to pay for the 240 detainees held at the controversial base in Cuba to be relocated, allowing for the facility to be closed.

But the Senate voted 90-6 against the proposal, following a similar rejection by the House of Representatives last week.

Even Senators from Mr Obama’s own party had said they would oppose his request for money.

They joined Republicans in indefinitely blocking detainees from standing trial or serving sentences in the United States.

“We don’t want them around,” Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid said.

Mr Obama’s Justice Department had hoped to persuade other countries to accept released detainees.

Banning them from entering the US would make that task immeasurably harder.

President Barack Obama

Sky News political analyst Jon-Christopher Bua said: “Again the phrase ‘not in my backyard’ raises its fearful head to cause Barack Obama the first real challenge from within his own political party.

“This potential security issue resonates with the average American voter.

“Mounting pressure from the Republicans allows no wiggle room for Obama’s fellow Democrats, many of whom are facing re-election in just 17 months.”

Many of those who support the prison’s closure in theory argue that President Obama has yet to come up with a detailed enough explanation of how to do it.

Senator John McCain, Mr Obama’s Republican rival in last year’s election, said: “The lack of a comprehensive, well-thought-out plan led to a predictable political backlash on Guantanamo.”

He added: “Instead of unifying Americans behind a plan that keeps us safe and honours our values, the administration’s course of action has unified the opposition to moving forward and move forward we must.”

Mr Obama has said he wants Guantanamo closed by January 2010.