US to overhaul security system

FOUR months after the September 11 Commission urged drastic changes to protect the US from another terror attack, Congress yesterday neared final passage of far-reaching legislation overhauling the US intelligence network and instituting new border and aviation security safeguards.

A compromise bill that seemed to be dead two weeks ago was to get a final vote in the Senate late yesterday before being sent to US President George W Bush for his signature.

The House yesterday passed the bill overwhelmingly, 336-75.

The legislation would create a new national intelligence director and establish a counter-terrorism centre. It would implement the biggest change to US intelligence since the end of World War II.