Bush rallies America in defence of freedom

In a spirited Independence Day rallying call to Americans, President George Bush pledged yesterday to use the United States' "overwhelming power in the defence of freedom" around the world.

With more than half of Americans fearing a terrorist attack, the official 4 July events were marked by unprecedented security, orchestrated by the Homeland Security office in the White House.

Military jets mounted patrols over the main cities and thousands of extra police, soldiers and FBI agents were deployed around the country. Hundreds of video cameras were installed along the national mall in Washington where thousands were expected to gather last night for a firework display. Security screening and fencing were introduced for the first time for the event.

In New York, those at celebratory parades were screened and thousands of plain-clothes police were deployed. But Mr Bush used a speech in the heart of Middle America – the village of Ripley, West Virginia – to call on the nation to celebrate despite the fears.

"The anniversary of America's independence is a day for gratitude, and a day for celebration," he told cheering crowds in the town square festooned with flags.

Evoking the American tradition of freedom dating back 226 years to the Declaration of Independence, Mr Bush said: "From that day in 1776, freedom has had a home and freedom has had a defender." The events of 11 September, he said, had called America to use its power once more to defend freedom. "And we'll do just that," added the President, who had taken off his jacket and addressed the crowd in shirt sleeves.

The attacks on New York and Washington, he said, had united the nation. "In a moment, we discovered again that we are a single people: when you strike one American, you strike us all," he said to loud applause and chants of, "USA, USA".

The President earned particularly loud applause when he pointedly recited the pledge of allegiance, which a San Francisco court last month ruled unconstitutional because it includes the words "under God".

Dismissing the ruling, which is likely to be overturned by a higher court, Mr Bush told his audience: "No authority of government can prevent an American from pledging allegiance to this one nation under God."

Despite the high-profile security, millions of Americans enjoyed the traditional 4 July parties, barbecues, picnics and firework displays. The White House said it had no knowledge of any threatening incidents, stressing that the security decisions were "precautionary".

In a Fourth of July message delivered outside the 18th-century hall in Philadelphia where America's founders declared independence from Britain on 4 July 1776, the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, issued an appeal to Americans to confront poverty, bigotry and inequality as the nation pursued its war on terrorism.

"We know there are still bigots," he said. "We know there is still poverty. We know that all of our children don't yet have the same opportunity for a quality education. We know our cities aren't all gleaming alabaster, undimmed by human tears."