Obama honours Guantanamo pledge

The order will close the much-maligned US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within a year, honouring a key promise of Mr Obama's presidential campaign.

The administration has already suspended trials for terrorist suspects at Guantanamo for 120 days pending a review of the military tribunals.

Mr Obama's package of measures overhauling US treatment of terror suspects also included orders to review military trials of terror suspects and ban the harshest interrogation methods.

The three executive orders and a presidential directive signed on Thursday showed Mr Obama's determination to reshape how the US prosecutes and questions al Qaida, Taliban or other foreign fighters who pose a threat to Americans.

The camp became a focus of criticism during the George W Bush administration. Many questioned the legality of detention without trial, while persistent allegations of torture damaged the US's standing abroad.

As a result of the executive orders, US personnel will have to follow strict guidelines when it comes to interrogating suspects.

Guards, soldiers and security forces will be banned from the use of threats, coercion, physical abuse and waterboarding.

Announcing the orders, Mr Obama said: "We intend to win this fight (against terrorism), but we are going to win it on our terms."