Anti-terror office will start turf war

President Bush yesterday acknowledged he faced a "tough battle" in Congress to win support for the creation of a new $37bn counter-terrorist department, which he predicted would threaten vested interests in government.

Speaking at an Iowa rally the day after unveiling his plans for a department of homeland security, the president said he expected turf battles between the government departments and 88 congressional commit tees which currently oversee elements of civil defence.

"This is going to be a tough battle, because we're going to be stepping on some people's toes," Mr Bush said.

There is broad bipartisan support for the creation of a unified government agency to pool intelligence and coordinate the US response to terrorist threats.

However, many members of Congress have been critical of the president's plans, which they claimed had been hastily formulated to divert attention from a congressional inquiry into intelligence failures before September 11.

David Obey, a Democratic congressman, said the proposed department would force together very different agencies - not only customs, immigration and the secret service, but also agricultural pest management units.

"As I read this, this new homeland security director is supposed to stop Mr Bin Laden, but he's also supposed to be in charge of boll weevil eradication," Mr Obey said.