国际英语新闻：U.S. security chiefs prepare against holiday terror threats

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Friday convened an inter-agency coordination call with the government's security chiefs, making preparations against possible holiday terror threats.

The call was hosted by Assistant to the President for Counter- Terrorism and Homeland Security John Brennan. Participants included Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and FBI Director Robert Mueller.

According to the White House, the security chiefs reviewed additional steps that are being taken to ensure vigilance throughout the holiday season, including enhanced security measures and close coordination with foreign partners.

Also on the call were National Counterterrorism Center Director Michael Leiter, Deputy Director of the CIA Michael Morrell, National Security Staff traveling with President Barack Obama in Hawaii, and other representatives from the counter-terrorism community.

Brennan on Wednesday announced the intelligence community and law enforcement agencies were working to prevent any terror attack over the year-end holidays and are paying particular attention to rail and other transportation systems.

Americans still remember the near-disaster bombing plot last year when a Nigerian man tried to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner on Christmas Day.

Brennan called Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh on Thursday, discussing ways to thwart plots of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which took responsibility for last year's Christmas bombing attempt.