Bush plays patriot games with web surveillance

President George Bush has boosted the power of US law enforcers to scan the web and phone lines for terrorist activity.

Signed into law on Friday, the USA Patriot Act gives investigators broad powers to track mobile calls, intercept email, monitor computer use and listen to voice mail messages.

The legislation has outraged US civil rights activists who claim it gives inappropriately strong powers to investigate innocent citizens.

The Bill was rushed through Congress in just six weeks.

During the White House signing ceremony Bush told reporters that surveillance is "another essential tool" in the war against terrorism. He said the law replaced out of date statutes that were drawn up "in the era of rotary telephones" and were now rendered inadequate.

A special 'sunset clause' added by concerned members of the Senate means some of the wide-ranging powers will be removed after four years.