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Bush nudges Congress on intel bill

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Saturday again urged Congress to pass the intelligence restructuring bill, but key House opponents appeared to remain firm as some dissenters began to emerge in the Senate.

With Congress returning Monday for a short session to pass the omnibus fiscal 2005 spending bill, the White House said it would delay sending a letter from the president to House and Senate leaders while administration and congressional staffs worked out a strategy to get the stalled measure passed.

The bill would create a national director of intelligence to oversee foreign and domestic operations of the 15 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community and by law establish a National Counterterrorism Center.

In his radio address, Bush noted he already had implemented many of the recommendations of the 9/11 panel including creation of the terrorism center, but he urged the legislators to pass the compromise House-Senate bill "so I can sign these needed reforms into law."

Bush's remarks came a day after a powerful Senate Republican, John W. Warner of Virginia, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, expressed doubts about the bill.

HOUSTON - A chemical plant fire and explosion that was heard about 25 miles away and produced huge clouds of smoke was not expected to have any major effect on the environment, authorities said.

Firefighters limited the amount of water they poured on the fire to control runoff from the plant, a 7-acre facility located in a neighborhood of single-family homes, apartments and industrial plants, said fire department District Chief Tommy Dowdy.

Friday's explosion at Marcus Oil & Chemical was was caused by a mechanical failure, but the equipment involved remained too hot for investigators to approach it Saturday, Dowdy said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - About 400 protesters gathered outside the Statehouse on Saturday to support a recount of the presidential election in Ohio.

Speakers addressing the crowd alleged that many voters were the victims of a fraud in which votes intended for John Kerry were given to President Bush.

"I would like to welcome you to the Ukraine," said Susan Truitt, referring to the country where a new presidential runoff election was ordered after observers said the first one was rigged.

On Friday, a federal judge in Columbus ruled that a recount may proceed if two minority party candidates who sued for it can pay for it.

Green and Libertarian party officials say they can.