WASHINGTON (AP):

President Barack Obama says his decision to close the Guantanamo prison "will make us safer" and ensure that the government is upholding legal guarantees under the US justice system.

In an interview aired yesterday on NBC's Today show, Obama said his decision to close the military prison at the US naval base in Cuba was driven by his attempts to balance "what's going to keep the American people safe" and constitutionally guaranteed rights for those imprisoned.

Obama says he is confident the international community will co-operate in accepting some of the militants currently being held at Guantanamo.