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| US senators McCain and Feinstein visit Guantánamo amid prison hunger strike | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A delegation consisting of White House chief of staff Denis McDonough and leading senators from both parties headed to Guantánamo Bay on Friday, as a hunger strike among inmates continued to grow. | A delegation consisting of White House chief of staff Denis McDonough and leading senators from both parties headed to Guantánamo Bay on Friday, as a hunger strike among inmates continued to grow. |
| Republican senator John McCain announced the trip in a tweet, acknowledging that Dianne Feinstein, the Democratic chair of the Senate Intelligence committee, was also in attendance. The White House later confirmed the visit, stating that the group was to review current conditions at the centre in line with President Barack Obama's stated desire to close the camp. | Republican senator John McCain announced the trip in a tweet, acknowledging that Dianne Feinstein, the Democratic chair of the Senate Intelligence committee, was also in attendance. The White House later confirmed the visit, stating that the group was to review current conditions at the centre in line with President Barack Obama's stated desire to close the camp. |
| Headed down to review the situation at Guantanamo Bay prison today with @senfeinstein and WH COS Denis McDonough | Headed down to review the situation at Guantanamo Bay prison today with @senfeinstein and WH COS Denis McDonough |
| But the visit also comes as a protest among prisoners widened. As of Friday, 104 of the 166 detainees still at the camp were refusing food. Of those 41 were being force-fed, with four in hospital. | But the visit also comes as a protest among prisoners widened. As of Friday, 104 of the 166 detainees still at the camp were refusing food. Of those 41 were being force-fed, with four in hospital. |
| The number of inmates participating in the hunger strike has steadily increased since the action began in early February, allegedly sparked by guards' heavy-handed cell searches. | The number of inmates participating in the hunger strike has steadily increased since the action began in early February, allegedly sparked by guards' heavy-handed cell searches. |
| Last month, Obama vowed to work towards shuttering the camp. It echoed a similar promise he made shortly after taking office in 2009. | Last month, Obama vowed to work towards shuttering the camp. It echoed a similar promise he made shortly after taking office in 2009. |
| However, he has faced consistent, strong resistance from Congress, which has repeatedly voted to keep Guantánamo open. | However, he has faced consistent, strong resistance from Congress, which has repeatedly voted to keep Guantánamo open. |
| Confirming Friday's visit, National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said it was a follow up to the president's speech last month, adding that the delegation would "review the situation there and discuss the steps that we can take with Congress to meet the president's goal of closing the facility". | Confirming Friday's visit, National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said it was a follow up to the president's speech last month, adding that the delegation would "review the situation there and discuss the steps that we can take with Congress to meet the president's goal of closing the facility". |
| Those in Washington who are against its closure cite concerns related to the release of terror suspects to foreign countries or to facilities in the United States. | Those in Washington who are against its closure cite concerns related to the release of terror suspects to foreign countries or to facilities in the United States. |
| But the continued detention of inmates, some of whom have never been charged or ordered to stand trial, has been a persistent cause of protest from civil rights groups. | But the continued detention of inmates, some of whom have never been charged or ordered to stand trial, has been a persistent cause of protest from civil rights groups. |
| The widening hunger strike has largely succeeded in drawing renewed attention to the remaining inmates at the US naval base in Cuba. Attempts to break the resolve of prisoners – by confining them to single cells and, allegedly, carrying out humiliating body cavity searches on detainees wishing to speak to their lawyers – have failed to bring about an end to the action. | The widening hunger strike has largely succeeded in drawing renewed attention to the remaining inmates at the US naval base in Cuba. Attempts to break the resolve of prisoners – by confining them to single cells and, allegedly, carrying out humiliating body cavity searches on detainees wishing to speak to their lawyers – have failed to bring about an end to the action. |
| In an indication of growing concerns by authorities, the number of staff being brought in to cope with the hunger strikers has increased in recent months. In April, a 40-strong backup medical team arrived at the camp. | In an indication of growing concerns by authorities, the number of staff being brought in to cope with the hunger strikers has increased in recent months. In April, a 40-strong backup medical team arrived at the camp. |
| Earlier this week, the military confirmed the number of guards at Guantánamo Bay was being boosted by 125 soldiers from a military police company based in Puerto Rico. | Earlier this week, the military confirmed the number of guards at Guantánamo Bay was being boosted by 125 soldiers from a military police company based in Puerto Rico. |
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