Republican senator slams closing of Guantanamo

Washington: Senator Kit Bond of Missouri said on Saturday that President Barack Obama's plan to close the Guantanamo detention centre "is a dangerous case of putting symbolism over security."

Bond spoke as he delivered the Republicans' weekly radio and internet address.

The senator said the president needs to tell the American people where the terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay will be sent.

He said: "The American people have a right to know exactly what the White House plans to do with these terrorists," adding, "Americans don't want these terrorists in their neighbourhood."

Bond is the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee.