High Graphics | BBC Sport>>
Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Entertainment | Talking Point | AudioVideo | High Graphics | BBC SPORT>>
Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Entertainment | Talking Point | AudioVideo |
World Contents: Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | From Our Own Correspondent | Letter From America |

BBC News Online: World: Americas


Tuesday, 2 October, 2001, 03:15 GMT 04:15 UK

Anti-terror plans toned down


Anti-US demonstrators in Indonesia
Reports say Indonesia is now the biggest terrorist threat
Negotiators in the US House of Representatives have reportedly reached agreement on a package of new laws against terrorism.

The deal is a toned-down version of proposals by President George W Bush.

The bill is expected to be introduced to the House on Tuesday and approved by the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

The package, proposed by the top Republican and Democrat members on the Judiciary Committee, gives law enforcers more power to:

Reuters news agency said it had obtained a copy of the bill which showed that the proposals also ruled out President Bush's provisions which were opposed by civil liberty groups.

These include:

The initial proposals by President Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft were issued in response to the devastating attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September.

On Sunday Mr Ashcroft warned Americans of the likelihood of "further terrorist activity" in response to prospective US military action in Afghanistan, and called on Congress to act quickly.

New anti-terrorism laws, he said, would make it easier to conduct searches and detain immigrants.

Mr Ashcroft wants both the House of Representatives and the Senate to pass legislation by the end of the week and send it to President Bush to sign into law.

Gen Ashcroft spoke of a 'national neighbourhood watch' scheme urging US citizens to be vigilant

But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy has not yet even scheduled a hearing on a pending Senate version of the bill, Reuters reported.

President George W Bush spent Sunday meeting key advisers at his Camp David presidential retreat, to consider further the US response to the attacks.

The FBI says it is following up more than 100,000 leads, which it hopes will lead to more information about them.

Hostage threat

Mr Ashcroft's statements follow the warning by the US State Department on Friday that Islamic extremists may be planning to kill or kidnap American and British civilians in the event of American retaliatory action.

Karachi anti-US protest
The State Department issued the statement after warnings from foreign and US intelligence agents.

US press reports have indicated that the most serious reported threat is in Indonesia, where radical Muslim groups reportedly plan to invade the wealthy neighbourhoods of Jakarta and seize large numbers of potential hostages should strikes against Afghanistan be carried out.

There have also reportedly been threats in Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Georgia and Bahrain.

Travellers have also been urged to be particularly careful in Muslim nations or those with large Muslim populations.


Related to this story:
Analysis: Decoding Taleban's message (30 Sep 01 | South Asia) Who is Osama Bin Laden? (18 Sep 01 | South Asia) UN aid heads for Kabul (30 Sep 01 | South Asia) Blair certain of Bin Laden guilt (30 Sep 01 | UK) Former Afghan king finds US favour (30 Sep 01 | South Asia) Funding the 'heroes of Islam' (30 Sep 01 | South Asia)


Internet links: US State Department | The White House |
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
High Graphics | BBC Sport>>
Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Entertainment | Talking Point | AudioVideo | High Graphics | BBC SPORT>>
Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Entertainment | Talking Point | AudioVideo |
World Contents: Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | From Our Own Correspondent | Letter From America |

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | ©