Grilling for key Bush aide

One of President Bush's most trusted aides will today offer an unrepentant defence of White House terrorism policy before September 11.

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice is to be grilled by an independent commission into the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Her performance could make or break the confidence of American voters in Mr Bush, who has made his tough stance on the war on terror one of the central planks of his re-election campaign.

Known as the "warrior princess" for her loyalty to the President, she will be pressed on claims that the White House was looking for an excuse to launch an invasion of Iraq and that Mr Bush at first refused to accept that Saddam Hussein was not involved in the destruction of the World Trade Center.

A huge television audience will watch Ms Rice give evidence. The hearings will be live on all four major networks, replacing chat shows and soap operas.