Traces of Anthrax Are also Found at C.I.A.

The anti-terrorism legislation, which gives unparalleled power to the agencies that investigate terror-related cases, was passed at the House of Representatives and the Senate. This legislation will come into effect after President Bush`s sign into the law on Oct. 26th.

In the midst of anthrax anxiety had spread throughout the U.S., a small amount of anthrax have been detected at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the State Department buildings.

The legislation will relax restrictions on federal authorities` tapping phones, tracking Internet usage, and holding foreigners who are considered as suspicious terrorists. This legislation cleared the House of Representatives, 357-66, on 24th, and the Senate approved the measure, 98-1, on 25th.

Attorney General John Ashcroft said, on 25th, ``A new era in America`s fight against terrorism is about to begin. I ordered the U.S. Attorney and Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) to use the new authorities in full scale from the time when the law will come into effect.`` Only Senator Russ Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin, voted against the bill, arguing that it would allow unconstitutional searches and punish individuals for vague associations with possible terrorists.

The CNN reported, on 26th, that the sample at the C.I.A.`s main mail-intake center in Langley, VA. had uncovered traces of anthrax.

The C.I.A. said, ``Although the traces of anthrax is medically insignificant, we closed the building in order to take preventive measures. Even though non of the mail service workers showed positive signs to the tests, the workers were on antibiotics.``

Han Ki-Heung eligius@donga.com