US inspects military bases

United States officials have confirmed that they inspected several military bases that could potentially replace the detention centre at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.



President-elect Barack Obama had pledged to close the base at Guantanamo Bay during the early days of his administration.



Among the sites that US officials said they visited are Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and Camp Pendleton, California.



Officials said the visits were part of a formal review of military bases and prisons initiated several weeks ago, in response to public statements by Obama.



The study, which military officials described as preliminary, has already drawn criticism from Republican legislators, who oppose the closing of the Guantanamo Bay centre.



They have expressed fear that the relocation of terrorism suspects to their districts could attract terrorist violence.