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Obama pledges 'era of openness' Obama pledges 'era of openness'
(10 minutes later)
President Barack Obama has issued executive orders on government ethics and transparency as part of a packed first full day in office. US President Barack Obama has issued executive orders on government ethics and transparency as part of a packed first full day in office.
The measures include curbs on lobbying and a pay freeze for senior White House Staff. Federal employees will have to sign up to new ethics procedures. The measures include curbs on lobbying and a pay freeze for senior White House staff. Federal employees will have to sign up to new ethics procedures.
The new president said he was beginning "a new era of openness" in government.The new president said he was beginning "a new era of openness" in government.
Later Mr Obama and his advisers are to discuss the economic crisis - as well as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.Later Mr Obama and his advisers are to discuss the economic crisis - as well as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Announcing the restrictions on lobbyists, Mr Obama said he wanted a "clean break from business as usual". Earlier judges suspended several of the military trials of terror suspects at Guantanamo, following Mr Obama's call for all cases to be suspended, made hours after his inauguration.
Mr Obama arrived at the Oval Office at 0835 on Wednesday, the White House said.
Families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington Barack Obama Obama diary: The first 100 daysBorn on Obama's inauguration dayIn pictures: Obama's first full day
The new president read the note left to him by his predecessor George W Bush in an envelope marked "To: #44, From: #43".
Mr Obama telephoned four Middle Eastern leaders - President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel, King Abdullah of Jordan and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
"He used this opportunity on his first day in office to communicate his commitment to active engagement in pursuit of Arab-Israeli peace," the White House said.
The president later attended a prayer service at Washington's National Cathedral - a tradition dating to the time of George Washington.
After returning to the White House, Mr Obama announced his first executive orders saying he wanted a "clean break from business as usual".
The new rules ban aides from lobbying the administration when they leave his staff. Officials are also banned from receiving gifts from lobbyists.The new rules ban aides from lobbying the administration when they leave his staff. Officials are also banned from receiving gifts from lobbyists.
Announcing the pay freeze for senior officials, Mr Obama said: "Families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington."Announcing the pay freeze for senior officials, Mr Obama said: "Families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington."
The economic crisis will is expected to be high on his agenda on his first day. The president is due to meet economic advisers to discuss his $825bn rescue plan.The economic crisis will is expected to be high on his agenda on his first day. The president is due to meet economic advisers to discuss his $825bn rescue plan.