WASHINGTON (CMC):

United States President-elect Barack Obama says he remains committed to closing the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba but says it is unlikely that it will happen during his first 100 days in office.

Obama had pledged during the course of his recent presidential campaign that he would close the base, which has been the subject of intense debate in the US over its continued operation and detention of several alleged terrorists without proper judicial review.

"I think it's going to take some time, and our legal teams are working in consultation with our national security apparatus, as we speak, to help design exactly what we need to do," said Obama Sunday in his first television interview since arriving in Washington.

Difficult

"It is more difficult than I think a lot of people realise," he added.

"Part of the challenge that you have is that you have a bunch of folks that have been detained, many of whom may be very dangerous who have not been put on trial or have not gone through some adjudication.