Date set for Rice testimony to 9/11 inquiry

US President George W

US President George W. Bush's national security adviser, Ms Condoleezza Rice, will testify publicly on April 8th before the commission investigating the September 11th, 2001, attacks.

Responding to heavy political pressure, the White House reversed course on Tuesday and agreed to allow Ms Rice to testify publicly after insisting she only speak to the panel privately.

She is expected to be asked about statements from former US counterterrorism chief Mr Richard Clarke, who said Mr Bush did not make terrorism a top priority before 9/11 and was fixated on Iraq.