Bush, during a press conference at Camp David with Danish Prime Minster Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said the United States was working with other countries to see if they can take some of the detainees
Bush said Rasmussen, a close US ally who has contributed troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, raised his concerns about the controversial Guantanamo prison camp in Cuba, where 500 detainees are being held in the war on terrorism.
'I assured him that we would like to end the Guantanamo,' he said. 'We'd like it to be empty.'
Bush said his administration is waiting for a Supreme Court decision on whether military tribunals are justified for prosecuting the roughly dozen detainees who have been charged.
'There are some that if put out on the streets could create grave harm to American citizens and other citizens of the world,' he said.
The meeting at Camp David comes two days after US forces killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaeda's top operative in Iraq who has directed some of the bloodiest attacks against civilians and coalition forces.
Al-Zarqawi was killed in an airstrike near the city of Baquba, northwest of Baghdad.
Bush said he was 'thrilled' that al-Zarqawi was dead, but said he wanted the American public to understand that challenges remain in combating the insurgency and building up Iraqi security forces.
'I don't want the American people to think that a war is won with the death of one person ... we have still more work to do,' he said.
Al-Zarqawi's death took place amid an ongoing investigation into allegations that US Marines murdered 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha, which has added to the criticism of US forces that emerged after the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
Rasmussen said it is essential that any soldiers deemed involved in the killing be held responsible.
'When unacceptable events happen in Abu Ghraib, and when allegations are made about horrific events in Haditha, it is not only a tragedy for the victims,' Rasmussen said. 'It is damaging to our own efforts and an offence to our very own values.'
'The president has assured me that all allegations will be investigated, and if there has been wrongdoing, then the responsible will be prosecuted,' he said.
Denmark has 530 troops in Iraq and 360 soldiers in Afghanistan. The meeting at Camp David, a presidential retreat which lies outside Washington, shows how closely Bush regards US-Danish relations. Bush rarely meets with foreign leaders at Camp David.
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