Obama to order Gitmo prison closed

WASHINGTON - January 12, 2009 - That executive order is expected during /*Obama*/'s first week on the job - and possibly on his first day, according to two transition team advisers. Both spoke Monday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Obama's order will direct his administration to figure out what to do with the estimated 250 al-Qaida and Taliban suspects and potential witnesses who are being held at Guantanamo.

It's still unlikely the prison would be closed any time soon. Obama last weekend said it would be "a challenge" to close it even within the first 100 days of his administration.

Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.