Bush discusses bin Laden tape

2004-10-30 18:22

Grand Rapids - President George Bush told his top national security aides on Saturday to take any actions "that might be necessary" after Osama bin Laden's latest videotaped threat, the White House said.

With National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice at his side, Bush spoke by secure video link to the heads of the CIA, FBI and the Justice Department, and one of his senior counter-terrorism aides.

"The president did direct them to make sure we were taking all actions that might be necessary," Bush spokesperson Scott McClellan told reporters as the president travelled here for a re-election campaign event.

The group included CIA director Porter Goss, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, Attorney General John Ashcroft, FBI chief Robert Mueller and Homeland Security adviser Fran Townsend.

The move came after Al Jazeera satellite television broadcast a new videotape in which bin Laden, whose al-Qaeda network carried out the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, threatened new attacks on the United States.

Bush was scheduled to travel to Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Florida, all critical up-for-grabs states. He was to spend the night in Florida and have three campaign events there on Sunday before returning to Ohio.

- AFP