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| Obama orders Guantanamo closure | Obama orders Guantanamo closure |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has ordered the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp as well as all overseas CIA detention centres for terror suspects. | US President Barack Obama has ordered the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp as well as all overseas CIA detention centres for terror suspects. |
| Signing the orders, Mr Obama said the US would continue to fight terror, but maintain "our values and our ideals". | Signing the orders, Mr Obama said the US would continue to fight terror, but maintain "our values and our ideals". |
| He also ordered a review of military trials for terror suspects and a ban on harsh interrogation methods. | He also ordered a review of military trials for terror suspects and a ban on harsh interrogation methods. |
| Continuing a flurry of announcements, he named his envoys to the Middle East, and to Afghanistan and Pakistan. | Continuing a flurry of announcements, he named his envoys to the Middle East, and to Afghanistan and Pakistan. |
| At Mr Obama's request, military judges have suspended several of the trials of suspects at Guantanamo so that the legal process can be reviewed. | At Mr Obama's request, military judges have suspended several of the trials of suspects at Guantanamo so that the legal process can be reviewed. |
| 'Ongoing struggle' | 'Ongoing struggle' |
| Mr Obama signed the three executive orders on Thursday, further distancing his new administration from the policies of his predecessor, George W Bush. | Mr Obama signed the three executive orders on Thursday, further distancing his new administration from the policies of his predecessor, George W Bush. |
| He said the Guantanamo prison "will be closed no later than one year from now." | He said the Guantanamo prison "will be closed no later than one year from now." |
| Q&A: Closing Guantanamo'Struggle' over Guantanamo | Q&A: Closing Guantanamo'Struggle' over Guantanamo |
| The US would continue to fight terror, he said, but maintain American values while doing so. | The US would continue to fight terror, he said, but maintain American values while doing so. |
| "The United States intends to prosecute the ongoing struggle against violence and terrorism," he said. | "The United States intends to prosecute the ongoing struggle against violence and terrorism," he said. |
| "We are going to do so vigilantly, we are going to do so effectively, and we are going to do so in a manner that is consistent with our values and our ideals." | "We are going to do so vigilantly, we are going to do so effectively, and we are going to do so in a manner that is consistent with our values and our ideals." |
| Mr Obama believed Americans will be safer with the prison closed, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in his first media briefing. | Mr Obama believed Americans will be safer with the prison closed, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in his first media briefing. |
| Mr Obama has repeatedly promised to close the Guantanamo Bay prison, where some 250 inmates accused of having links to terrorism remain and 21 cases are pending. | Mr Obama has repeatedly promised to close the Guantanamo Bay prison, where some 250 inmates accused of having links to terrorism remain and 21 cases are pending. |
| The legal process for these prisoners has been widely criticised because the US military acts as jailer, judge and jury, the BBC's Jonathan Beale reports from Guantanamo. | The legal process for these prisoners has been widely criticised because the US military acts as jailer, judge and jury, the BBC's Jonathan Beale reports from Guantanamo. |
| However, closing the prison will not be easy, he says. | However, closing the prison will not be easy, he says. |
| Questions remain over where those charged will be tried and where those freed can be safely sent. | Questions remain over where those charged will be tried and where those freed can be safely sent. |
| Obama diary: The first 100 daysWashington diaryBorn on Obama's inauguration day | Obama diary: The first 100 daysWashington diaryBorn on Obama's inauguration day |
| Secret CIA "black site" prisons around the world are also to be closed, although the time frame for this is unclear. | Secret CIA "black site" prisons around the world are also to be closed, although the time frame for this is unclear. |
| The rendition - or transfer - of terror suspects to these prisons was widely criticised after they came to light in the wake of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. | The rendition - or transfer - of terror suspects to these prisons was widely criticised after they came to light in the wake of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. |
| Mr Obama has also limited the methods investigators can use to question terrorism suspects. | Mr Obama has also limited the methods investigators can use to question terrorism suspects. |
| Threats, coercion, physical abuse and waterboarding are now all banned. | Threats, coercion, physical abuse and waterboarding are now all banned. |
| Clinton cheered | Clinton cheered |
| Continuing a day focused on national security and diplomacy, Mr Obama said veteran politician and deal-maker George Mitchell would head to the Middle East as soon as possible, in an effort to pursue a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | Continuing a day focused on national security and diplomacy, Mr Obama said veteran politician and deal-maker George Mitchell would head to the Middle East as soon as possible, in an effort to pursue a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. |
| George Mitchell: 'There is no such thing as a conflict that can't be ended' | |
| Mr Mitchell is a former senator who under former president Bill Clinton chaired the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. | Mr Mitchell is a former senator who under former president Bill Clinton chaired the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. |
| Long-serving diplomat Richard Holbrooke was appointed US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan and charged with leading "our effort to forge and implement a sustainable approach to this critical region", Mr Obama said. | Long-serving diplomat Richard Holbrooke was appointed US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan and charged with leading "our effort to forge and implement a sustainable approach to this critical region", Mr Obama said. |
| The announcements were made at by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, flanked by Mr Obama and his Vice-President Joe Biden. | The announcements were made at by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, flanked by Mr Obama and his Vice-President Joe Biden. |
| Mrs Clinton had earlier arrived at the state department for her first day on the job, where she was welcomed by applause and cheers from staff members. | Mrs Clinton had earlier arrived at the state department for her first day on the job, where she was welcomed by applause and cheers from staff members. |
| She said it was a new era for America. | She said it was a new era for America. |
| "President Obama set the tone with his inaugural address, and the work of the Obama-Biden administration is committed to advancing America's national security, furthering America's interests, and respecting and exemplifying America's values around the world." | "President Obama set the tone with his inaugural address, and the work of the Obama-Biden administration is committed to advancing America's national security, furthering America's interests, and respecting and exemplifying America's values around the world." |
| Earlier on Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee approved the nomination of Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary, despite questions over his late payment of taxes earlier this decade. | Earlier on Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee approved the nomination of Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary, despite questions over his late payment of taxes earlier this decade. |
| The full Senate next votes on Mr Obama's choice to be the point man in steering America through its sharpest economic downturn in decades. | The full Senate next votes on Mr Obama's choice to be the point man in steering America through its sharpest economic downturn in decades. |
| Do you agree that Guantanamo prison should be closed? Send us your comments using the form below. | Do you agree that Guantanamo prison should be closed? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |