Administration considers lowering terrorism alert

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is seriously considering lowering the nationwide terror alert back to code yellow because of disruptions in the al-Qaida terrorist network, including the arrest of a suspected Sept. 11 plotter, government officials said Monday.

President Bush raised the alert to orange -- the second-highest level -- after U.S. intelligence warned of a "high risk" of a terrorist attack in connection with the Sept. 11 anniversary two weeks ago.

Officials stressed that Americans should remain alert; even at code yellow, the nation faces a significant risk of attack.

The change could be made in the next few days as senior administration officials review new intelligence and weigh the potential for attack on U.S. targets, said two officials familiar with the deliberations. They spoke on condition of anonymity.

In the days leading up to the anniversary, U.S. intelligence agencies warned the White House that terrorists operating in several South Asian countries and linked to al-Qaida hoped to explode car bombs or launch other attacks on U.S. facilities abroad.

While there was no direct evidence of a plot against the United States, U.S. intelligence noted a similar pattern before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and urged Bush to raise the alert level.

Bush may soon return the level to yellow because of "some disruptions in plots and operations" of terrorists, one of the officials said.