Clinton's crusade against teen smoking

President Clinton has launched a campaign to press the United States Congress to approve legislation to fight smoking among teenagers.

In his weekly radio address, Mr Clinton urged legislators to move swiftly to end what he called the epidemic of teenage smoking noting there were less than seventy days left before Congress adjourns.

Correspondents say Mr Clinton wants any legislation to include a gradual one-and-a-half-dollar price rise for a pack of cigarettes; and also extra powers for the government to fight under-age smoking and regulate tobacco products.

The drive for new legislation follows a settlement last year, under which American tobacco companies will pay out almost three-hundred-and-seventy-billion-dollars in compensation in exchange for the states dropping lawsuits against them.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service