Obama orders closing of Gitmo

Recently inaugurated U.S. president Barack Obama signed an executive order earlier today to close the Guantánamo Bay military prison. The move calls for the jail to close within the next year and comes almost two days after he directed a suspension of military trials at the controversial facility.

As reported by the Guardian UK:

A draft copy of the order said: "In view of significant concerns raised by these detentions, both within the United States and internationally, prompt and appropriate disposition of the individuals currently detained at Guantánamo and closure of the facility would further the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States and the interests of justice."

Obama also signed other executive orders banning the use of torture in terror interrogations and reiterated his pledge to take a "practical, pragmatic approach to foreign policy."

Meanwhile, ex-Cuban president Fidel Castro gave his two cents on recently inaugurated U.S. president Barack Obama. In an article published in yesterday’s Granma, Castro claimed that he “did not harbor the slightest doubt over the honesty with which Obama… expressed his ideas.” Yet he also observed that “despite his noble intentions, there are still many individuals to whom he will have to respond.”

Image- AFP
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Guardian UK, ABC News, Reuters, BBC News