Lib Dem's leader to visit Guantanamo

7.10.48pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 13th Jun 2006

Ming plans to visit Guantanamo Bay detention camp

Sir Menzies Campbell plans to become the first British politician to visit Guantanamo Bay. His office is looking into the logistics of a trip to the US detention centre in Cuba. Washington has said it is open to allowing visitors but in the past has place restrictions on the degree of access allowed.

Sir Menzies has been an outspoken opponent of Guantanamo since his pre-leadership days as the Party's foreign affairs spokesman. He has criticised Tony Blair for limiting himself describing the centre as "an anomaly" rather than calling for its closure.

The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion calling on the US to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. It follows the suicides of three detainees over the weekend. Austria, which holds the EU presidency, said it would urge US President George Bush to close the camp when EU leaders meet him at a summit next week.