WASHINGTON Sept 10: US Vice-President Dick Cheney spent Monday night at a secret location as a security precaution before the anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks, the White House said on Tuesday.

“I will confirm that the vice president last night spent the night at a secure, undisclosed location, as was the case last year,” White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said at a press briefing.

He said the action was “based on an on-going review of information as received, as well a precautions, a combination of the two, which makes these determinations necessary”.

Cheney disappeared from view for several days last year after the Sept 11 attacks as a major security shield was thrown around the Bush administration.

The announcement came on the heels of word from a US official that the US will increase its terror alert level from “elevated” to “high” on Tuesday.—AFP