THE new Uruguayan government announced yesterday that it will no longer grant asylum to prisoners released from the US concentration camp at Guantanamo Bay.

In December, Uruguay gave sanctuary to six Arab men held at the US base in Cuba for 12 years.

But in February, then president Jose Mujica warned that the six had not yet adapted to life in Uruguay.

They spent 12 years in jail for alleged ties with al-Qaida but were never charged.

The new government of Tabare Vazquez, who was sworn in on March 1, appears to be less sympathetic to them.

Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa made the announcement but did not elaborate on the change of policy towards Guantanamo detainees.

Mr Nin Nova warned that Uruguay would also stop taking refugees from the Syrian conflict.

Decisions on accepting new refugees will be put on hold “until the end of the year,” he said.

Uruguay has faced “cultural and infrastructure” problems in dealing with the Syrian families, he claimed.

Meanwhile, Abu Wa’el Dhiab, who is one of the six, said he had requested a meeting with the foreign minister to talk about their future.

Mr Dhiab declined to confirm that he plans a hunger strike outside the US embassy to demand financial help from the US.

The six men each receive a monthly stipend of 15,000 pesos (£400) from the government and live in a house provided by a Uruguayan trade union.