This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/obama_inauguration/7843424.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Obama pledges 'era of openness' Obama pledges 'era of openness'
(10 minutes later)
US 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.
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.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.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 dayFamilies 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".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.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."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.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".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 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. Stimulus
The economic crisis is expected to be high on his agenda on his first day. The president is due to meet advisers to discuss his $825bn rescue plan, which Congress is expected to approve next month.
Mr Obama is also due to meet military advisers. He has promised to withdraw combat troops from Iraq within 16 months.
GUANTANAMO BAY Q&A: Guantanamo detentions'Struggle' over Guantanamo
He said that on his first day in office he would give commanders there a new mission - to end the war.
On the Guantanamo cases, military judges have agreed to suspend six trials. They include proceedings against five men accused of plotting the 11 September attacks.
The judge halted their trial despite the fact that four of the five - including alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed - opposed the proposed suspension during a court hearing on Wednesday.
Earlier, the judge in the separate trial of Omar Khadr - a Canadian man accused of killing an American soldier in Afghanistan in 2002 - also agreed to suspend the case.
Also on Wednesday there will be a debate over the appointment of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.
Approval for her appointment was postponed after a Republican senator demanded a debate about foreign donations to a foundation headed by her husband, former President Bill Clinton.
Mrs Clinton's nomination is expected to be confirmed in a vote immediately after the debate.
Apology
Several other cabinet positions are still to be confirmed.
Timothy Geithner, the nominee to head the treasury department, faced the Senate finance committee on Wednesday to explain his initial failure to pay payroll taxes he owed while working for the International Monetary Fund.
He apologised to the committee, saying he had been careless but that he had "paid what I owed".
Mr Obama last week called Mr Geithner's tax problems an embarrassment but an "innocent mistake".
Other Obama nominees still to be confirmed are Eric Holder as attorney general, and Tom Daschle as head of health and human services.
The US Senate, which traditionally moves swiftly to affirm a new president's cabinet, approved six members on Tuesday, including Janet Napolitano as homeland security secretary and Steven Chu as energy secretary.