Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai urges Barack Obama to close Guantanamo Bay prison

The Afghan leader was speaking on a visit to Denmark

Hamid Karzai has pressed for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison (Getty Images)

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

Karzai says he has "from the very beginning been a very strong supporter" of closing down the prison at the U.S. naval base in Cuba, a goal that has eluded Obama since he took office. 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.

Karzai said during a visit to Denmark on Thursday that he also wants the release and return of Afghan prisoners in Guantanamo.

The Afghan leader was speaking on the third leg of a visit that also took him to Finland and Estonia.

AP