Jan. 22 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama issued an executive order today to close the prison at the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, that had become a symbol of the Bush administration’s controversial policy on detainees.

The action represents a break with the policies of former President George W. Bush on the treatment of suspected terrorists.

To contact the reporter on this story: Julianna Goldman in Washington at jgoldman6@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: January 22, 2009 11:10 EST