WASHINGTON: US military judges on Wednesday deferred the trial of key Guantanamo suspects, hours after President Barack Obama asked prosecutors to seek a suspension of all military trials at the US prison camp in Cuba.

Members of the Obama team described his decision as the first step towards fulfilling a vow to close the controversial “war on terror” prison.

A senior administration official, however, told reporters that Mr Obama was not yet going to issue an executive order closing Guantanamo.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said that 120-day suspension that Mr Obama was seeking would lead to a “broader, comprehensive review related to detention activities at Guantanamo” and an order might be issued after the review.

On Tuesday, Mr Obama directed US Defence Secretary Robert Gates to order prosecutors to seek the suspensions to clear the way for the review.

Military judges responded on Wednesday by suspending trials of a Canadian and five alleged September 11 co-conspirators, including alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

One of the judges, Patrick Parrish, said the trial of Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen held at Guantanamo, would be suspended for 120 days. Mr Khadr was arrested in Afghanistan at the age of 15.

Mr Obama’s decision was among his first actions as president, announced hours after he took oath on Tuesday. The move was welcomed by the world as a first step towards the notorious prison’s closure.

“(This would) permit the newly inaugurated president and his administration time to review the military commissions process, generally, and the cases currently pending before military commissions, specifically,” said the official announcement.

Prior to his inauguration, Mr Obama had said he would close down the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. The Obama administration also wants to review the legal system for prosecuting alleged terrorists.

Jamil Dakwar, the director of the human rights programme at the American Civil Liberties Union, said Mr Obama’s request was a positive step but “the president’s order leaves open the option of this discredited system remaining in existence.”

Manfred Nowak, UN special rapporteur on torture, said the decision was “very positive” and that President Obama “very quickly made good on his promise.”

About 245 people are still held at the prison camp in Cuba.