President Obama sent a clear signal of intent today by making a series of telephone calls to Middle East leaders on his first morning in the White House.

After announcing the suspension of military trials for Guantanamo Bay suspects, the Commander-in-Chief spoke to Israeli and Palestinian leaders in a bid to focus attention on solving the latest crisis to engulf the region.

White House officials confirmed that the President called Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority as well as President Mubarak of Egypt and Jordan’s King Abdullah.

“President Obama used this opportunity on his first day in office to communicate his commitment to active engagement in pursuit of Arab-Israeli peace from the beginning of his term and express his hope for their continued co-operation and leadership,” an Administration spokesman said.

He said that Mr Obama was determined to “work to help consolidate the ceasefire by establishing an effective anti-smuggling regime to prevent Hamas from rearming and facilitating, in partnership with the Palestinian Authority, a major reconstruction effort for Palestinians in Gaza”.

It is believed that George Mitchell, the former Northern Ireland peace-broker who helped shape the Good Friday Agreement, will be named as the Obama Administration’s Middle East envoy later today.

The telephone calls came a few hours after the President’s order to halt controversial military trials at Guantanamo, his first decree was issued while he and his wife Michelle were still waltzing their way through a series of inaugural balls.

Last night's request was for a 120-day delay in the trials of five alleged 9/11 plotters - including the self-proclaimed 'mastermind' behind America's worst terror attack - and of a Canadian accused of killing a US soldier in Afghanistan.

Mr Obama has also drafted an Executive Order which will demand that the Guantanamo Bay prison is closed within one year.

President Obama’s very first task this morning on the first full day of his presidency, was to attend a prayer service at Washington's National Cathedral, with readings and musical performances.

The Reverend Dr Sharon Watkins delivered the sermon at the multi-faith event, the first woman ever to preside at the time-honoured inaugural service.

Later today President Obama was due to meet his military top brass and economics experts to discuss how to steer America out of two costly wars and its worst recession in 50 years.

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