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Obama admits delay on Guantanamo Obama admits delay on Guantanamo
(9 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has for the first time admitted that the US will miss the January 2010 deadline he set for closing the Guantanamo Bay prison.US President Barack Obama has for the first time admitted that the US will miss the January 2010 deadline he set for closing the Guantanamo Bay prison.
Mr Obama made the admission in interviews with US networks during his tour of Asia.Mr Obama made the admission in interviews with US networks during his tour of Asia.
He said he was "not disappointed" that the deadline had slipped, saying he "knew this was going to be hard".He said he was "not disappointed" that the deadline had slipped, saying he "knew this was going to be hard".
Officials are trying to determine what to do with some 215 detainees still held at the US prison in Cuba.Officials are trying to determine what to do with some 215 detainees still held at the US prison in Cuba.
Mr Obama's announcement follows considerable speculation that the deadline would slip, as the administration wrestles with the issue of how to deal with those inmates who cannot either be freed or tried in US courts.Mr Obama's announcement follows considerable speculation that the deadline would slip, as the administration wrestles with the issue of how to deal with those inmates who cannot either be freed or tried in US courts.
January 2009: Obama orders Guantanamo closure
He did not set a specific new deadline for closing the camp, but said it would probably be later in 2010.He did not set a specific new deadline for closing the camp, but said it would probably be later in 2010.
"We had a specific deadline that was missed," he told NBC television."We had a specific deadline that was missed," he told NBC television.
And he told Fox News: "People, I think understandably, are fearful after a lot of years where they were told that Guantanamo was critical to keep terrorists out."And he told Fox News: "People, I think understandably, are fearful after a lot of years where they were told that Guantanamo was critical to keep terrorists out."
Closing the facility was "also just technically hard", he added.Closing the facility was "also just technically hard", he added.
Domestic oppositionDomestic opposition
Moving to close Guantanamo was one of Mr Obama's first acts in office.Moving to close Guantanamo was one of Mr Obama's first acts in office.
ANALYSIS Paul Reynolds,BBC News website world affairs correspondent President Obama's admission that he will not close Guantanamo Bay by his target of 22 January is not a surprise given that his senior officials have been hinting at this for some time.ANALYSIS Paul Reynolds,BBC News website world affairs correspondent President Obama's admission that he will not close Guantanamo Bay by his target of 22 January is not a surprise given that his senior officials have been hinting at this for some time.
The problems have proved more complex than expected. Most difficult of all is what to do with those prisoners against whom there is not enough presentable evidence to use either in a civilian or a military court. The US government is trying to get foreign countries to take them but has had limited success.The problems have proved more complex than expected. Most difficult of all is what to do with those prisoners against whom there is not enough presentable evidence to use either in a civilian or a military court. The US government is trying to get foreign countries to take them but has had limited success.
There is some domestic opposition to their transfer to the US itself. A nearly-empty prison in rural Illinois is being considered to house them. The president's statement is an acceptance that this will not be resolved in time.There is some domestic opposition to their transfer to the US itself. A nearly-empty prison in rural Illinois is being considered to house them. The president's statement is an acceptance that this will not be resolved in time.
On 22 January 2009, just two days after inauguration, he set a deadline of a year for closing the heavily-criticised prison.On 22 January 2009, just two days after inauguration, he set a deadline of a year for closing the heavily-criticised prison.
His administration says it will try some detainees in US courts and repatriate or resettle others not perceived as a threat.His administration says it will try some detainees in US courts and repatriate or resettle others not perceived as a threat.
This process is already under way. Last week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and four other defendants would face trial in a New York federal court.This process is already under way. Last week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and four other defendants would face trial in a New York federal court.
Another five detainees had been ordered to face military commission trials, Mr Holder said at the same news conference.Another five detainees had been ordered to face military commission trials, Mr Holder said at the same news conference.
A number of inmates, including several Chinese Muslim Uighurs, have been cleared by investigators for release and resettled overseas.A number of inmates, including several Chinese Muslim Uighurs, have been cleared by investigators for release and resettled overseas.
But the issue of detainees assessed as dangerous but who for legal reasons could not be successfully prosecuted in US courts remains unresolved.But the issue of detainees assessed as dangerous but who for legal reasons could not be successfully prosecuted in US courts remains unresolved.
The White House is also facing domestic opposition to holding trials of detainees on US soil, with some lawmakers and relatives of 9/11 victims arguing it puts Americans at risk.The White House is also facing domestic opposition to holding trials of detainees on US soil, with some lawmakers and relatives of 9/11 victims arguing it puts Americans at risk.
The BBC's Jonathan Beale, who is at Guantanamo Bay, says the announcement of the delay has come as no surprise.The BBC's Jonathan Beale, who is at Guantanamo Bay, says the announcement of the delay has come as no surprise.
The question of where to put those detainees who cannot be freed or tried remains a huge political obstacle, he says.The question of where to put those detainees who cannot be freed or tried remains a huge political obstacle, he says.