Bush accepts terror 'failings'

President Bush has accepted "deep institutional failings" after a long-awaited report into the September 11 attacks found serious flaws in America's ability to fight terrorism.

The scathing report by an independent commission criticised Mr Bush and his predecessor Bill Clinton for failing to defend the US against Osama bin Laden.

The report also attacked the White House and Congress, saying they left the fight against terrorism to poorly-funded agencies like the CIA and FBI ,who spent almost as much time fighting each other as terrorism. Mr Bush praised the findings as, "serious and comprehensive" saying it would "help our country take even more steps to better defend America".

Despite promising to "give serious consideration to every idea", Mr Bush is unlikely to implement one of the commission's central recommendations, the appointment of a national counter-terrorism chief to be responsible for the 15 intelligence agencies, including the CIA and FBI.

The findings will prompt fresh calls for Tony Blair to appoint a minister for homeland security. Mr Blair has so far ruled this out. He may also face pressure to consider the US report's recommendation for a cabinet-level official to oversee the security and intelligence agencies.

After 20 months of investigations the report identified 10 missed opportunities to uncover the plot six of which happened under President Bush. The report criticises the "war on terror," a central plank in the president's foreign policy.