DATE=12/21/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-TERRORISM (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257374
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  The Clinton Administration says it knows of no 
specific threats of millennium-related terrorism 
activity in the United States despite last week's 
arrest of an Algerian man trying to bring bomb-making 
material in from Canada.  Officials, though, are still 
advising Americans to be cautious during the holidays. 
V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the White House.


TEXT:  The White House says a "vigorous" investigation 
is continuing into the case of the Algerian national 
arrested in the state of Washington a week ago as he 
crossed the border from Canada with a car loaded with 
bomb components, including nitroglycerine and timing 
devices.

The arrest of 32-year-old Ahmed Ressam - a Montreal 
resident - has prompted high-level concern about a 
possible terrorist plan to attack U-S millennium 
celebrations, and was the subject of a meeting of top 
U-S national security officials at the White House 
Monday.

But under questioning from reporters, White House 
spokesman Joe Lockhart declined to characterize the 
two-hour meeting that included Secretary of State 
Madeleine Albright and C-I-A director George Tenet as 
an emergency session - saying the Administration is 
not in what he termed a "scare mode."

Mr. Lockhart said the investigation of the arrest near 
Seattle - involving federal, local and Canadian law 
enforcement officials - has not turned up specific, or 
general, information about a planned attack on any 
specific U-S target:

            /// LOCKHART ACT ///

      We have made the case in the past that the 
      United States is not invulnerable to domestic 
      terrorism.  But there is no specific information 
      now about particular targets here. But I think - 
      as we've said - as we head into the millennium 
      that, it pays for people to be cautious and 
      vigilant.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Lockhart said he was not advising Americans to 
change their plans for domestic millennium 
celebrations, but that they should be alert, and 
report suspicious activity to authorities.

By contrast, the Clinton administration says it has 
received "credible" information that terrorists may be 
planning to attack U-S citizens abroad during the 
holiday period.  It issued a worldwide alert ten days 
ago for American travelers to be careful and to 
contact local U-S embassies and consu1ates for further 
advice.

Jordanian authorities last week announced the arrest 
of 13 members of a group they said had links to 
alleged terrorist mastermind Osama Bin Laden, and was 
planning attacks against American, Israeli and other 
targets.

Mr. Bin Laden, a millionaire Saudi exile believed 
living in Afghanistan, faces a U-S murder indictment 
for the lethal bombings last year of U-S embassies in 
Kenya and Tanzania.

The Clinton administration last week served notice on 
Afghanistan's dominant Taleban faction, which it 
accuses of sheltering Mr. Bin Laden, that it will be 
held responsible for any terror attacks against 
Americans traced to the Saudi fugitive. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/TVM/JP




21-Dec-1999 16:59 PM EDT (21-Dec-1999 2159 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.