In the wake of the UN report, UK Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said: "I would prefer that it wasn't there and I would prefer it was closed."
Asked if Blair agreed, Hain said: "I think so, yes."
The UK prime minister was asked about the controversy after talks in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Blair said: "I've said all along... that it [the camp] is an anomaly and sooner or later it's got to be dealt with."
Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrats foreign affairs spokesman and acting leader, is writing to Blair asking him to urge the US either to put the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay on trial or release them.
"The systematic violation of human rights undermines the moral authority of the West and makes it impossible to win the long-term battle for hearts and minds," he said.
"It is time for the prime minister to take action and to demand the closure of the camp. Detainees should either be charged or released."
The nine Britons who were held at the camp have all been released but three former British residents ~ Bisher al-Rawi, Jamil el-Banna and Omar Deghayes ~ remain as detainees.
Sir Menzies is also asking what representations the UK has made to the American authorities about them.
Chairman of the Commons foreign affairs select committee, Labour's Mike Gapes, welcomed Peter Hain's comments but said there was a feeling among MPs that a "more forceful statement" should be made about the concentration camp.
Asked why he thought Tony Blair was not being "bolder," Gapes said: "I suspect it's part of a general approach to speak quietly to the Americans and not make big public statements."
Maybe it's because Blair is a running dog for Bush?
Copyright 2003-2006 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice
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