Bush attends world series despite new threats

NEW YORK, OCT. 31. Shrugging off new terror threats, the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, travelled to a packed and patriotic Yankee Stadium to open the third game of baseball's world series with a perfect strike.

Attending the game was an important gesture for Mr. Bush, who has advocated Americans defy terrorism by leading normal lives in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Three F-14 fighters roared over the red, white and blue festooned Ballpark. After a moment's silence for those who lost their lives last month and for U.S. forces deployed overseas, a huge flag was carried onto the centre field by 60 cadets from the Military Academy. ``America fears nobody - play ball,'' read a sign in the upper deck.

A bald eagle released from atop the scoreboard swooped gracefully to the pitchers' mound. Mr. Bush stepped up wearing a navy fire department of New York windbreaker. He tossed the ceremonial pitch across the plate and into the glove of the Yankee catcher, Mr. Jorge Posada, winning hearty hugs and backslaps from two of the game's greats, Mr. Yogi Berra and Mr. Whitey ford. ``This is part of the balance our society is coming to understand, that as threats are received, as security is beefed up, it similarly is important for (Americans) to go about their normal life,'' the White House spokesman, Mr. Ari Fleischer, said. ``No one has ever been able to make the American people cower.''

Since the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Mr. Bush has urged Americans to go about business as usual, to take vacations, to fly again and to go to ballparks, all the while remaining on alert.

The Federal Government on Monday issued a second warning that there may be new terror attacks on the United States or its interests over the next week. The alert came amid a spate of anthrax incidents that killed three people and left many fearing more assaults could include biological warfare.

Security for Mr. Bush's visit was tight. Metal detectors and other checks delayed many fans getting to their seats and the lines outside the stadium were long.

Backpacks were confiscated. Law enforcement sources said almost 2,000 police officers on foot, horseback and motorcycles were on duty in and around the Bronx Ballpark, snipers were stationed on nearby rooftops and bomb-sniffing dogs were used.

- Reuters

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