Guantanamo ‘to close’ as Obama and Bush meet at White House

Barack Obama is set to close down Guantanamo Bay as soon as he takes office, his aides said yesterday as the president-elect met with George Bush at the White House to discuss the transfer of power.

In a clear sign that Obama is determined to turn his back on the Bush era, the incoming President is planning to ship up to 80 terrorist suspects from the camp to face criminal trial in the US.

Despite an ambitious agenda by the new administration, yesterday's encounter between the 43rd President and the man who will be the 44th was described by both sides as "productive and friendly". Obama and Bush posed for photos with their wives, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama, outside the South Portico of the White House before holding an hour-long meeting.

Keenly aware of previously awkward transitions between presidents, both men seemed intent on making the visit as cordial as possible. But the bonhomie could not disguise the fact that the visit came on a day which saw Obama record the most favourable ratings ever for an incoming president, 75 per cent, while Bush broke all records as the most unfavourable President ever, at 24 per cent - lower than either Truman or Nixon.