Closing down Guantanamo prison quickly is a challenge: Obama

September 30th, 2009 Gates: Closing Gitmo more complicated than thoughtWASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says trying to close down the detention center at Guantanamo Bay has proved more complicated than anticipated. Gates says "it's going to be tough" for the president to meet his goal of shutting the prison in January.

September 25th, 2009 AP sources: Guantanamo may not close by JanuaryWASHINGTON — The White House is acknowledging for the first time that it might not be able to meet President Barack Obama's January deadline for closing the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay.

September 10th, 2009 DOD lawyer stops short of assuring Gitmo closingWASHINGTON — The Pentagon's top lawyer says the Obama administration remains committed to closing the Guantanamo Bay prison early next year but is stopping short of assuring it will happen. Pentagon general counsel Jeh Johnson on Thursday described the administration's struggle to follow legal and moral guidelines when dealing with terror detainees while protecting America from al-Qaida.

August 9th, 2009 Official: Closing Gitmo prison can be done by Jan.WASHINGTON —The White House national security adviser says he's confident the administration will meet President Barack Obama's deadline for closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility by January. National security adviser Jim Jones says officials are working every day to find the right solution for dealing with suspected terrorists being held at the U.S.

June 26th, 2009 Obama: Talks ongoing with Germany on closing GitmoWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he and Chancellor Angela Merkel have not yet gotten down to a discussion of just how many Guantanamo detainees might be sent to Germany. Merkel agreed with that, answering a question Friday at a joint news conference the two had at the White House amid a day of bilateral talks.

June 18th, 2009 House rejects measure on Guantanamo closingWASHINGTON — The House has voted to deny the use of any federal money for the closing of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay next year and to impose restrictions on the transfer of detainees to the United States. But House members, in a narrow vote Thursday, defeated a Republican amendment to a 2010 spending bill that would have imposed a more blanket prohibition on the use of any funds related to closing the facility.

June 17th, 2009 US asks Spain's help to close GuantanamoMADRID — The United States has asked Spain to accept four prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay prison for terrorism suspects, the foreign minister said Wednesday. Miguel Angel Moratinos said Spain will respond when it has studied the legal consequences of taking them in and the circumstances of those four people.

June 15th, 2009 Italy open to taking 3 Guantanamo detaineesWASHINGTON — Italy says it is open to taking at least three detainees from Guantanamo. An aide to Premier Silvio Berlusconi said Monday the topic will likely come up during the Italian leader's meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House later in the day.

May 10th, 2009 Cheney derides idea of closing Guantanamo prisonWASHINGTON — Former Vice President Dick Cheney says transferring suspected terrorists from Guantanamo Bay to the United States would be a bad idea. The Obama administration has pledged to close the military prison in Cuba and raised the possibility of transferring some inmates to this country.

May 9th, 2009 GOP: Closing Guantanamo prison threatens securityWASHINGTON — Republicans say the White House plan to close the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay "is a dangerous case of putting symbolism over security." President Barack Obama needs to tell the public where the suspected terrorists will go after the facility in Cuba is shuttered, Missouri Sen.

May 6th, 2009 France says it will take Algerian from GuantanamoPARIS — France says it will take in an Algerian who has been held prisoner by the United States at Guantanamo Bay for the past seven years. Lakhdar Boumediene was arrested along with five other Algerians in 2001 in Bosnia, suspected in a bomb attack plot against the U.S.

January 23rd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Saturday welcomed the US administration's decision to close down the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. 'Pakistan is confident that the new US administration will develop a holistic strategy in successfully overcoming the complex challenges confronting the world today,' the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.

January 21st, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama Thursday signed an executive order to close the Guantanamo prison within one year.

January 20th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama on his first day in office ordered the suspension of prosecutions at the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for 120 days, CNN reported Wednesday, citing the military.

January 20th, 2009 MADRID - Spain Wednesday offered to help US President Barack Obama in closing the prison camp in Guantanamo in Cuba. Spain would, however, first want to be informed in detail about the legal situation of each of the Guantanamo inmates, Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told the Punto Radio.