Bush acts on agency to tackle terrorism in US

THE long-sought Department of Homeland Security will begin taking shape on March 1 when the Secret Service, Customs Service and several huge agencies will be folded into the massive new department.

It will be fully operational by September 30, 2003 more than two years after the attacks that prompted the overhaul.

"The threat of mass murder on our own soil will be met with a unified, effective response," President George W Bush said as he signed a bill creating the new 170,000-person agency. Mr Bush chose long-time political ally Tom Ridge and two high-powered deputies to lead the new Department and mount a "united, effective response" against terrorism on US soil.