Obama to resume Guantanamo trials

US President Barack Obama is approving the resumption of military trials for detainees at the US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, ending a two-year ban.

A senior military official said Mr Obama will issue an executive order. Defence Secretary Robert Gates will rescind his January 2009 ban against bringing new cases against the terror suspects at the detention facility.

Mr Obama vowed when he took office to close the detention facility at Guantanamo, but officials have recently acknowledged that closure is not likely because of questions about where terror suspects would be held.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been made public.