Those responsible for Friday's blasts in Kenya and Tanzania, which killed at least 130 people, would be pursued "until justice is done", he said in a live radio broadcast from the White House Oval Office.

President Clinton: "No matter how long or where"

President Clinton said the bombings would not change US foreign strategies.

He said: "In recent years we have captured major terrorists in the far corners of the world and brought them to America to answer for their crimes.

Shaken but alive: US ambassador Prudence Bushnell

"No matter how long it takes or where it takes us we will pursue terrorists until the cases are solved and justice is done."

Mr Clinton decided to broadcast his weekly radio address live - it is usually pre-recorded - in response to the bombings.

President Clinton: "They died protecting pur freedom"

He said: "Americans are targets of terrorism because we have unique leadership responsibilities in the world, because we act to advance peace and democracy and because we stand united against terrorism.

"To change any of that - to pull back our diplomats and troops from the world's trouble spots, to turn our backs on those taking risks for peace, to weaken our opposition to terrorism - would give terrorism a victory it must not and will not have."

Jihad warnings

Suspect: Osama bin Laden

Publicly, US politicians are refusing to names suspects as the US receives up to 30,000 threats a year.

But privately some believe the Saudi Arabian Osama bin Laden may be responsible for the synchronised bombings.

He has threatened a jihad (holy war) against US troops in his homeland and Americans elsewhere overseas.

Meanwhile the US ambassador to Kenya, Prudence Bushnell, has given her first press conference since she was slightly injured in the Nairobi bombing.

Ambassador Bushnell: "Broken hearts, shattered lives"

She said: "It's in everybody's interest to find out who is behind this evil.

"The result is broken hearts, shattered lives, shock, dismay, anger and incredible sorrow."