US House OKs use of force, following Senate lead
( 2001-09-15 11:12 ) (7 )

The US House of Representatives on Friday gave final congressional approval to a resolution authorizing President George W. Bush to "use all necessary and appropriate force" against the perpetrators of this week's deadly hijack attacks.

The use-of-force resolution, which won unanimous Senate backing earlier on Friday, gives Bush the green light to strike both individuals and nations that he determines "planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks."

Thousands were missing and several hundred confirmed dead after hijackers slammed three commercial jets into New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Tuesday. A fourth plane crashed in western Pennsylvania.