US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge urged Americans not to cancel their holiday travel plans on Monday, one day after a "high" terror alert level prompted authorities to tighten security across the United States.

"If you've got holiday plans, go," Ridge told a news conference after briefing President George W. Bush on the latest security situation. Bush met officials from the Homeland Security Council, which includes officials from the Department of Homeland Security and law enforcement agencies.

Ridge reiterated that the new threat was "the most significant threat" the United States had ever faced since the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. "We've never quite seen it at this level before," he said.

However, in an effort to strike a balance between security and celebrations as the holiday season is approaching, Ridge urged Americans to go about their business as usual while remaining vigilant.

"One of the things we focused on in the meeting today was an understanding by everyone, from the president on down, this is a period of celebration," he said after the White House meeting.

"Be vigilant and be aware, and let the security professionals, the law enforcement community, federal, state and local officials worry about your security," he said.

Ridge's comments came one day after he raised the national threat alert to Orange from Yellow, the middle scale of the five-color alert system. He cited increased volume of reports indicating that terrorists abroad were attempting to strike the United States in a magnitude which would "rival or exceed" the Sept. 11 attacks.

Security was heightened in New York, Washington and other major cities and extra protection was put in place around critical infrastructures such as nuclear facilities, power plants and bridges. Travelers were cautioned that more random searches and longer check-in lines should be expected.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2003)