Obama vows to shut down Guantanamo prison: 'It is wildly expensive'

US President says he will do everything he can to close internationally hated detention camp

In the aftermath of 9/11, US policy in Guantanamo was acceptable to terrified Americans (Getty)

Barack Obama has said that he will do “everything I can” to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba after four Afghan detainees held there were sent home.

Obama promised to shut the internationally condemned prison when he took office nearly six years ago, saying it was damaging America's image around the world. But he has been unable to do so, partly because of obstacles posed by the U.S. Congress.

“I'm going to be doing everything I can to close it,” Obama said on CNN's “State of the Union with Candy Crowley,” program in an interview taped on Friday.

“It is something that continues to inspire jihadists and extremists around the world, the fact that these folks are being held,” he said.

“It is contrary to our values and it is wildly expensive. We're spending millions for each individual there. And we have drawn down the population there significantly,” he added.

In his pre-Christmas briefing, Barack Obama warned North Korea it would face retaliation over a cyber attack on Sony Pictures and pledged not to bow to dictators, as an envoy for Pyongyang denied involvement (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Image) (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

In the latest step in the gradual push to close the prison, four Afghans held for over a decade at Guantanamo have been sent home, the Pentagon said on Saturday.

Reuters