SYDNEY - AUSTRALIA has been approached by US authorities about taking some of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba when it closes, a report said on Saturday.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told The Australian newspaper any requests would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

'Australia, along with a number of other countries, has been approached to consider resettling detainees from Guantanamo Bay,' the spokesman was quoted saying.

'Any determination for an individual to come to Australia would be made on a case-by-case basis.

'All persons accepted to come to Australia would have to meet Australia's strict legal requirements and go through the normal and extremely rigorous assessment processes.'

US President-elect Barack Obama has said he will close the detention centre located at the US naval station in southeastern Cuba after he assumes office.

The jail, which has come to symbolise aggressive detention practices that opened the United States to allegations of torture, currently holds about 250 detainees, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused of masterminding the Sept 11 attacks.

Under conservative former prime minister John Howard, Australia was a vocal supporter of outgoing US President George W. Bush's war on terrorism launched after Sept 11. -- REUTERS