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Obama orders Guantanamo closure Obama orders Guantanamo closure
(20 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has ordered the Guantanamo Bay prison camp to be closed within one year. 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.
All overseas CIA detention centres, set up to interrogate terror suspects, are also to be closed.
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".
Mr Obama has also ordered a review of the military trials and a ban of harsh interrogation techniques, which critics have said amount to torture. Mr Obama has also ordered a review of military trials of terror suspects and a ban on harsh interrogation methods, which critics say amount to torture.
At Mr Obama's request, military judges have already suspended several of the trials of terror suspects at the Guantanamo detention centre so that the legal process can be reviewed. About 250 suspects have been held at Guantanamo Bay for years without trial.
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 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 GuantanamoQ&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 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 dayObama 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 cheeredClinton cheered
Also 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.Also 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.
Mr Obama was also due to visit the state department with Vice-President Joe Biden, where new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived on Thursday morning to applause and cheers from staff members. The Senate confirmed her in the role on Wednesday.Mr Obama was also due to visit the state department with Vice-President Joe Biden, where new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived on Thursday morning to applause and cheers from staff members. The Senate confirmed her in the role on Wednesday.
She said defence, diplomacy and development were the three pillars of US national security and that the state department was in charge of two of them.She said defence, diplomacy and development were the three pillars of US national security and that the state department was in charge of two of them.
Outlining her priorities, Mrs Clinton said it was a new era for America.Outlining her priorities, Mrs Clinton 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."
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.
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