Washington and London tighten security against feared terrorist attacks

WASHINGTON (AFP) Apr 02, 2003
The United States and Britain, the two countries leading the war on Iraq, took joint steps Tuesday to tighten security against eventual terrorist attacks on their own soil.

British Interior Minister David Blunkett and US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said after meeting in Washington that a group of officials from their countries would be set up to speed the exchange of information on terrorist activities.

The British Embassy here said in a statement the formation of the Joint Contact Group of Senior Officials would represent "unprecedented cooperation."

"Today we have focused on how we can extend that spirit of friendship and co-operation in more practical ways," Blunkett told reporters after the meeting. "The closer we work together, the more difficult the terrorists job becomes."

The two countries are now cooperating in the development of biometric technology for facial recognition and exchanges of resources and information.

These include vaccines and other means of dealing with biological, radiological and nuclear threats.

Both countries are also bracing for attacks on computer networks.

Since just before the start of the Iraq war the United States has been on an orange -- or "very high" -- terrorist alert status, fearing homeland attacks in repraisal for the US-led war.

WAR.WIRE