U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday said he hopes the release of his birth certificate will finally bury the issue of where he was born and emphasis will be placed on more important issues.

US President Barack Obama's birth certificate that was released by the White House in Washington April 27, 2011. The White House on Wednesday released a longer version of President Barack Obama's US birth certificate to try to quiet a debate within Republican circles that he was not born in the United States. [Photo/China Daily via Agencies]

In a surprise move, the White House released Obama's official birth certificate on its website, and Obama later spoke to reporters about the issue he said has been dragging on for two and half years.

By coming before the press in a national statement, Obama sought to stake himself out as a voice of reason amid a loud, lingering debate on his birth status.

"We do not have time for this kind of silliness," Obama said after the White House released the long form of his birth certificate, which contains extensive data.

White House officials have said the issue was settled long ago. But so-called "birthers" opposed to Obama have kept the issue alive. Potential Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump recently began questioning why Obama hadn't ensured the long form was released.

"We're not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers," the president said.

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