The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Washington

White House hopeful Barack Obama has said Republican policies on national security had left Americans less safe and less respected as he fended off an onslaught over terrorism from John McCain.

McCain, the Republican standard-bearer for November's election, meanwhile won backing from President George W. Bush for his demand to open the US coasts to offshore oil drilling at a time of sky-high fuel prices.

Obama convened a new group of advisers on security policy that included prominent backers of his defeated primary rival Hillary Clinton, including former secretaries of state Madeleine Albright and Warren Christopher. The Illinois senator also met with about 40 retired generals and admirals for an overview of the US armed forces, as he parried a second day's offensive from the McCain camp about his plans to fight Islamic extremism.