Armed man arrested at White House

President Bush: Work as usual

A man armed with a knife has been arrested outside the White House in Washington.

Security officials say the man was stopped in a park outside the White House's south-west gate at about 0700 local time (1200GMT) because he was acting "suspiciously and inappropriately".

Agents searched the man and found a large knife - he himself then led them to his truck, parked nearby, where firearms were found.

President George W Bush was in the White House at the time, but his spokesman, Ari Fleischer, said he was never at risk and continued his day without any interruption.

Assault rifle

Secret Service spokesman Jim Mackin described the man as white and in his mid-20s, with no prior record on the service's files.

After he was detained, he told agents he had more weapons in his truck and led to them to a Dodge pickup truck with Idaho licence plates.

The vehicle was parked across from the US Treasury Department, which flanks the White House.

There was a SKS assault rifle in plain view on the front seat, Mr Mackin said.

Agents also found another rifle with a scope, a bullet-proof vest, a Kevlar helmet and a handgun. At least two of the weapons were reported to be loaded.

Mr Mackin said other unspecified suspicious items found in the truck led the Secret Service to close down the street for about two hours and call in a bomb squad.

The man is being questioned and is expected to be charged.