France wanted 'assistance' on Khadr: WikiLeaks
France asked the U.S. for "assistance" with Omar Khadr even as Ottawa declined to intervene on the Canadian prisoner's behalf, according to documents published by WikiLeaks.
In it, Clinton called the U.S. detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba a "cancer" the U.S. wanted to "take care of."
It was known at the time of the meeting that Kouchner brought up Khadr's case. But the cable discloses the French minister, at the end of the discussion on Guantanamo Bay, handed Clinton a paper concerning Khadr. He is described as "a 15-year old Muslim of Canadian origin." Khadr, now 24, was 22 at the time of the meeting.
The cable does not say what assistance Kouchner was seeking, but notes Clinton agreed to review the case.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government has faced heavy criticism for refusing to call for the Toronto-born Khadr's repatriation, instead insisting the judicial process against him in the U.S. take its course.
Khadr has been at Guantanamo Bay since 2002, after he was captured in Afghanistan — at the age of 15 — earlier that year. After reaching a plea deal with prosecutors in October, it is anticipated that he will return to Canada in one year. Then he could apply for parole.
Under the plea deal revealed during his trial at Guantanamo Bay, Khadr pleaded guilty to the murder of Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer and to four other charges: attempted murder, conspiracy, providing material support to terrorists and spying.