Blow to Guantanamo closure

US President Barack Obama's plan to close the Guantanamo Bay prison by early 2010 hit a snag as his Democratic Senate allies moved to deny him €58 million he sought for that purpose.

Democrats on Tuesday joined Republicans who have warned for weeks that Mr Obama lacks a plan for dealing with the facility's 240 detainees from 30 countries, and argued against imprisoning, trying or freeing any of them on US soil.

"The money was sought prematurely," because the President has yet to present a clear strategy for deciding the prisoners' fate, said Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Although about 80 of the detainees have been singled out for prosecution, the fate of those who have been convicted and sentenced to prison remains unclear.

The White House promised that Mr Obama would unveil "a hefty part" of his plan for closing the facility, a global symbol of US "war on terror" excesses, in a speech today.

"We agree with Congress that, before resources, they should receive a more detailed plan," presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.