WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday signed the 2011 defense authorization bill into law, but promised to repeal provisions that would restrict transfer of military detainees from the Guantanamo prison.

The bill, which cleared both houses of Congress last month, agreed to 725 billion dollars in defense programs, including 158.7 billion for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

However, the bill restricted transfer of military detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison to the United States, a major setback for Obama's effort to close the prison.

"My administration will work with the Congress to seek repeal of these restrictions, will seek to mitigate their effects, and will oppose any attempt to extend or expand them in the future," Obama said in a statement.