President George W. Bush said: "I want to reassure the American people all the resources of the Federal Goverment are working to assist local authorities to save lives and to help victims of these attacks.

Make no mistake, the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts. I have been in contact with the Vice-President, the Secretary of Defence, the national security team and my cabinet. We have taken all apppropriate security cautions to protect the American people. Our military at home and around the world is on high alert status. We have taken necessary secruity precautions to continue functions of your government.

We have been in touch with leaders of Congress and world leaders to assure them we will do whatever is neessary to protect American and Americans.

I ask the American people to join me and say thanks to all the folks who have been fighting hard to rescue fellow citizens and to join me and say a prayer for victims and their families.

The resolve of our great nation is being tested. Make no mistake. We will show the world that we will pass this test."