WASHINGTON: A key report ordered by US President Barack Obama as part of his effort to close the internationally condemned Guantanamo prison will be delayed six months, but officials insisted this week they were still on track to shut it down by January.

Amid divisions between the administration and lawmakers over the fate of Guantanamo inmates, Obama aides said a task force crafting a new policy on terrorism detainees would miss its Tuesday deadline for offering its full recommendations.

Instead, the government panel issued an interim report late on Monday that provided an overview of the options, including prosecution in US civilian courts and by military commission or the transfer of suspects to other countries.