WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Sunday morning news programs that trying to close down the detention center at Guantánamo Bay has proved more complicated than anticipated.

"It's going to be tough'' for the president to meet his goal of shutting the prison in January, Gates said, citing difficulties in completing the lengthy review of detainee files and resolving other issues.

Gates said that even before President Barack Obama took office, he was arguing for a firm deadline to close the facility.

"When the President-elect's national security new team met in Chicago'' on Dec. 7, he told CNN's John King, "I was one of those who argued for a firm deadline, because I said that's the only way you move the bureaucracy in Washington.''

"But if you have to extend that date, if at least you have a strong plan showing you're making progress in that direction, then it shouldn't be a problem to extend it and we'll just see whether that has to happen or not.''

Gates, who had advocated closure as well as President George W. Bush's defense secretary, spoke on CNN's "State of the Union'' and ABC's "This Week.''

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