Obama says U.S. systematically reducing Guantanamo prison numbers

"We will continue to steadily chip away at the population," Obama said at a White House year-end press conference, noting that by early 2016 the administration expects the prison population will be below 100.

Obama said he would attempt to get Congress to back a plan to close the facility before he considers whether to use his executive authority to address the issue.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Eric Walsh)