WASHINGTON, Feb 15: With the nation on a heightened state of alert, US President George Bush told anxious Americans on Saturday that steps were being taken to protect them from another terrorist attack.

The administration last week raised its terror threat advisory to “high”, signifying a heightened risk of attack and prompting authorities to tighten security around Washington, New York and other high-profile targets.

Mr Bush sought to calm the public, rattled by a taped message believed to be from Osama bin Laden urging Muslims to fight America and repel any war against Iraq.

“Our nation is preparing for a variety of threats we hope never will arrive,” Bush said in his weekly radio address.

“Many of these dangers are unfamiliar and unsettling. Yet the best way to fight these dangers is to anticipate them, and act against them with focus and determination.”

Bush’s advice: “Americans should go about their lives.”

Democrats ridiculed the administration for dispensing advice that included stocking up on duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal homes against a chemical or biological weapons attack — saying what was really needed was more federal money for homeland security.

They called on Bush to submit to Congress within seven days a supplemental budget request for homeland defense that would total in the billions of dollars.

“It is shameful that the heroes who rushed to defend the Pentagon and the World Trade Center on Sept 11 have to come to Washington over and over again, hat in hand, and beg this administration for the resources they need,” said Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

Bush has requested 41.3 billion dollars for domestic security for fiscal 2004, a 10 per cent increase.

He is asking Congress for nearly six billion dollars to beef up U.S. defenses against biological attack and is also expected to ask lawmakers for another 20 billion dollars for the Pentagon within the next few weeks.—Reuters