WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama says his administration has fallen short in his goal of closing the Guantanamo Bay detention center.

Obama came into office promising to close Guantanamo within his first year as president, a deadline long past. Obama says his administration continues to work toward that goal.

Speaking at a White House news conference, Obama said he still believes the American justice system is capable of prosecuting, convicting and holding terrorists who have attacked the U.S. He says that while the issue of trying terror suspects in U.S. courts has generated heated political rhetoric, he is willing to work with lawmakers to move forward.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

-----

Obama: Best minds working to capture Bin Laden

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama says Osama bin Laden has gone "deep underground" because of U.S. pressure on al-Qaida. He says the best intelligence officers and special forces are working night and day to capture him.

Obama says it remains a high priority to capture or kill the al-Qaida leader who was the architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. He says getting bin Laden would be extremely important to the country's national security -- though it wouldn't solve all the problems.

Obama says that al-Qaida is "holed up" in a way that's made it difficult for the group to operate.

Obama spoke in response to a question at a White House news conference Friday, the day before the Sept. 11 anniversary.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

-----

Obama to take GOP to task on economy, tax cuts

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is capping an economy-focused week with a White House news conference at which he will aim for the upper hand in the political debate over the country's financial future.

Friday's nationally televised news conference from the East Room is scheduled for 11 a.m. Eastern time and caps a week of appearances during which Obama rolled out new spending and tax cut proposals aimed at helping the economy.

His proposals would pump $50 billion into transportation projects, extend a tax credit for research and development and let businesses accelerate tax write-offs of investments in new plants and equipment.

Obama last held a solo White House news conference in May to discuss the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)