US boosts airport security

WASHINGTON: The United States is satisfied with its current terrorism alert level and acknowledges potential al-Qaida links to the plots in Britain, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said yesterday.

"I think given what we know now, we're comfortable that we're at the right posture," he said during a round of talk show appearances.

In response to an attack at a Scottish airport and two foiled car bombs in London, US airports and mass transit systems are tightening security ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.