December 22, 2003	Monday	Shawwal 27, 1424

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WASHINGTON, Dec 21: The United States on Sunday raised its nationwide terrorism alert level from ‘elevated’ (yellow) to ‘high’ (orange) because of the threat of an Al Qaeda attack.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said there were “credible reports” that an attack could be carried out during the end-of-year holidays.

Mr Ridge said the threat could be “greater now” than at any point since attacks in 2001, adding that intelligence reports indicated that extremists abroad anticipated attacks that would “rival or exceed” the Sept 11 attacks.—Agencies