European capitals reacted with caution yesterday to the idea of resettling terror suspects released from Guantanamo Bay, with Paris seeking a concerted European approach and others opposed to the idea.

The Netherlands went furthest, ruling out accepting any of the inmates despite broad European support for US President-elect Barack Obama's promise to shut down the notorious military detention center.

"If they are not to be tried but cannot return to their own countries, it is first and foremost the responsibility of the country which arrested and imprisoned them, the United States," a Dutch foreign ministry spokesman said.