McVeigh case sparks FBI probe call

McVeigh's bomb killed 168 people

The FBI is facing calls for a full-scale review of its activities following its failure to produce documents which led to the postponement of the execution of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh.

Senator Charles Schumer of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee that oversees the FBI, has called on President George W Bush to order a "top-to-bottom" review of the agency.

He said his panel had decided to hold hearings into how thousands of pages of documents from the case had only recently been discovered and given to McVeigh's lawyers.

I call it a cowboy culture... that puts image, public relations, and headlines ahead of the fundamentals of the FBI

Senator Charles Grassley

Adding his voice to the criticism, senator Charles Grassley accused FBI management of adopting a "cowboy culture".

Last Friday, US Attorney-General John Ashcroft postponed until 11 June McVeigh's execution to enable his lawyers to read the documents.

This was the latest in a series of recent incidents involving the FBI, which culminated with the arrest of FBI agent Robert Hanssen 15 years after he allegedly began spying for Russia.

An inquiry was set up early this year following the arrest.

'Re-examination'

Senator Schumer urged President Bush to establish a commission of top law enforcement experts "to just examine the FBI from top to bottom."

"When you have major case after major case after major case, mistake after mistake after mistake, it's time for a thorough and complete re-examination," Mr Schumer said.

"Has the bureaucracy gotten too big? Have they lost their edge?" he added.

FBI 'mishaps'

Ruby Ridge shooting in Idaho

Investigation of Los Alamos nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee

FBI misidentification of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bomber

FBI siege of Waco

Arrest of alleged Russia spy Robert Hanssen

Long-time FBI critic senator Charles Grassley called for immediate congressional hearings.

"There is a management culture here that is at fault. I call it a cowboy culture. It is kind of a culture that puts image, public relations, and headlines ahead of the fundamentals of the FBI," he said.

A third senator - Arlen Specter - also spoke of the need for more active congressional oversight of the FBI.

When you have major case after major case after major case, mistake after mistake after mistake, it's time for a thorough and complete re-examination

Senator Charles Schumer

The White House said President Bush is waiting the results of the Hanssen probe before deciding on further action.

On Sunday, Attorney-General John Ashcroft ruled out any further postponement of the McVeigh's execution.

Mr Ashcroft has ordered the Justice Department to investigate why the FBI failed to hand over the 3,135 documents, which include interview notes, photographs, written correspondence and tapes.

Senator Schumer asked: 'Have they lost their edge?'

Defence lawyers are studying the documents. They say McVeigh - who has admitted responsibility and until this latest twist had refused to appeal - is ready to reassess his situation but he has given them no new instructions.

The 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City, in which 168 people were killed and hundreds injured, was the worst ever such atrocity on American soil.