Obama signs U.S. defense spending bill, criticizes Guantanamo provisions

U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday signed into law a $618.7 billion annual defense policy bill, but in a lengthy statement he raised objections to parts of the legislation, including the continuation of policies preventing the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"During my administration, we have responsibly transferred over 175 detainees from Guantanamo," Obama said in the statement. "Our efforts to transfer additional detainees will continue until the last day I am in office."

(Reporting by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Leslie Adler)