U.S. President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill that effectively prevents detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay prison for terrorist suspects from being brought to the United States for criminal trial, and further restricts their potential transfer to foreign countries.
The move is being described as a step that is likely to make it harder to close the Guantanamo jail.
Obama said in a statement that he signed the bill because it also includes hundreds of billions of dollars in funds for a wide range of military and national security programs.
But he pledged to overturn the provisions in the legislation dealing with Guantanamo, saying he remains committed to eventually closing the prison.
Obama said U.S. authorities should have the option of bringing suspects at Guantanamo to the U.S. for civilian terrorism trials.
About 170 detainees remain in detention at Guantanamo Bay, including many captured in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, terrorist strikes on the U.S.
compiled from agency reports