Afghan President Karzai Calls for Gitmo's Closure

Wants prisoners from his country released

Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday pressed for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison as President Barack Obama mulls a renewed push before a reluctant U.S. Congress.

"I have from the very beginning been a very strong supporter for the closing down of the Guantanamo prison," Karzai told reporters during a brief visit to Denmark.

Obama's goal of closing down the prison at the U.S. naval base in Cuba has eluded him since he took office. In his first week, Obama signed an executive order for its closure, but Congress has used its budgetary power to block detainees from being moved to the United States.