US President Obama admitted the failure on part of intelligence agencies in detecting the terrorists’ attempt to blow an American airline, and pledged to defeat al-Qaeda at all costs.

Briefing media after meeting with Security Chief in Washington, the US president told the reporters that US security agencies had enough intelligence to disrupt a plot to blow up a plane last month, but failed to act. The intelligence community had failed to ‘connect the dots’, Mr Obama said. Obama however assured all out efforts to protect the Americans. He noted that a Nigerian man namely Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, became a member of al-Qaeda network in Yemen. The president reiterated his plan to close down Guantanamo Bay prison.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government expressed concern over the strict screening made mandatory for Nigerian citizens at US airports. Nigerian Foreign Minister told the reporters that he had told the US envoy that such checking measures were intolerable for his country.

DALLAS, USA: Former President General (r) Pervez Musharraf who is presently on a month-long visit to US called on his former US counterpart George W. Bush here Thursday.

The two leaders discussed issues of bilateral interests with focus on important regional and international issues, former Minister of State Dr Naseem Ashraf who also accompanied with Musharraf told the newsmen after the meeting.

He said that the former president told his US counterpart that the injustice with Kashmiris and Palestinians was the root cause of growing extremism in Muslim world. “The global peace could only be achieved by resolving the disputes of these two regions,” he was quoted as saying.

Musharraf told Bush whom he termed “his reliable friend” that the Pakistan Army was enjoying full support of the nation and offering great sacrifices in curbing the menace of terrorism in the country.

In the meeting former US President expressed his deep concern on growing terrorism in Pakistan and the security situation of the region, Ashraf said.

USA: Former President General (r) Pervez Musharraf who is presently on a month-long visit to US called on his former US counterpart George W. Bush.

The two leaders discussed issues of bilateral interests with focus on important regional and international issues, former Minister of State Dr Naseem Ashraf who also accompanied with Musharraf told the newsmen after the meeting.

He said that the former president told his US counterpart that the injustice with Kashmiris and Palestinians was the root cause of growing extremism in Muslim world. “The global peace could only be achieved by resolving the disputes of these two regions,” he was quoted as saying.

Musharraf told Bush whom he termed “his reliable friend” that the Pakistan Army was enjoying full support of the nation and offering great sacrifices in curbing the menace of terrorism in the country.

In the meeting former US President expressed his deep concern on growing terrorism in Pakistan and the security situation of the region, Ashraf said.