Bush urges Congress to renew Patriot Act

WASHINGTON: US President George W Bush on Monday called on Congress to renew the Patriot Act, calling the controversial package of anti-terrorist laws vital to preventing a repeat of the September 11, 2001 attacks.   

Bush told a news conference a minority of US senators were putting the country at risk by blocking renewal of the act, due to expire in 12 days, out of concern over infringements of civil liberties.   

"Congress has a responsibility to give our law enforcement and intelligence officials the tools they need to protect the American people," the president told reporters.   

"The senators ... must stop their delaying tactics and the Senate must vote to reauthorise the Patriot Act," he said. "In the war on terror we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment."   

Bush spoke amid growing concern that his administration might have exceeded its legal authority in gathering anti-terrorist intelligence, particularly his authorization of phone and e-mail monitoring without court approval.