U.S. authorities probe domestic angle to anthrax scare

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, OCT. 30. The second warning to Americans about another possible terrorist attack by the Al-Qaeda, the first of which was issued on October 11, comes at a time when there is heightened security and concern in Washington over bio-terrorism. Thousands of federal, state and local agencies are on a high state of alert; and so are overseas interests of the United States.

According to the Attorney-General, Mr. John Ashcroft, the alert ``gives the people a basis for continuing to live their lives the way they would otherwise live them with this elevated sense of alertness or vigilance''.

At a news conference, Mr. Ashcroft tried to walk that fine line between wanting to give out timely and prompt information and pressing the panic button. But the seriousness of the message was for all to see.

Investigators are desperately looking for the source of the deadly powder, which has struck different states, resulting in three fatalities, including two in Washington. At least 18 others are being treated, some for the inhalation of anthrax.

While foreign links to what is taking place inside the U.S. has not been ruled out, one definite theory doing the rounds is the domestic source of terror. Authorities believe it could be any number of groups - from the right wing to the hate - which may be involved. Additionally, it is maintained that it could be a single mentally-deranged person with a bio-chemistry background who is behind the anthrax scare.

The new warning also comes at a time when the Pentagon claims that some leaders of the Taliban militia may have been killed in the air strikes over Afghanistan, even if the top Taliban or the Al-Qaeda leaders may have escaped. ``There's no question but that the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda people, military, have been killed. To our knowledge, none of the very top six, eight, 10 people have been included in that,'' the Defence Secretary, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, said at a news briefing on Monday.

The Pentagon said there is unlikely to be any respite in the operations during the holy month of Ramadan.``The Taliban and the Al-Qaeda are unlikely to take a holiday,'' Mr. Rumsfeld said.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Bush to meet Musharraf on Nov. 10
Next     : LTTE blasts oil-tanker