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Pakistan's president cracks down on terrorism

SUMMARY:

As the United States removes members of its diplomatic staff from Pakistan because of threats against U.S. interests, Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said Saturday he would use "all possible means" to rid the country of terrorists.

Meanwhile, in another embarrassment for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, four Pakistani men were let into the United States last week without the agency following proper procedures put in place after September 11, Justice Department officials said late Friday.

UPDATE:

In New York, search crews recovered the remains of six people from the wreckage of the World Trade Center late Friday night and early Saturday morning, New York Fire Department spokesman Robert Calise said.

The remains were found in a section of rubble from the South Tower, where rescue workers are now focusing their efforts.

Calise could not confirm whether any of the remains were firefighters, but he did release the names of four firefighters who were found recently and identified by the medical examiner's office. (Full story)

Meanwhile, a memorandum issued by a prestigious research center concluded that one of the September 11 hijackers might have been infected with cutaneous (skin) anthrax when he sought treatment at a Florida hospital before the attacks.

The Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies' report raised questions about ties between Ahmed al-Haznawit -- who was treated at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale in June, 2001 -- and the spate of anthrax-laced letters sent through the U.S. mail that killed five in October and November.

But a U.S. government source said that six months of painstaking investigation have yielded no evidence that the hijacker, who was treated for a skin lesion, was infected with cutaneous anthrax. (Full story)

Addressing the country in a televised National Day speech Saturday, Musharraf said an overhaul of the government's institutions would have to take place in order to successfully crack down on terrorism within the country's borders. (Full story)

Summary Update Key questions Who's who  CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

U.S. civilians in Pakistan have been the targets of several recent attacks. Last Sunday, a grenade attack on a church near the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad left five people dead, including the wife and daughter of a U.S. diplomat. In January, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and executed by his captors.

The U.S. State Department announced Friday it was ordering all nonessential personnel and family members of diplomats to leave Pakistan in the face possible further threats.

In Washington, authorities said although they have no information to indicate any of the four missing Palestinians has ties to terrorism, state and federal agents are trying to find the men.

The episode prompted an angry memo from James Ziglar, commissioner for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, who vowed to toughen accountability for his employees.

"The days of looking the other way are over," he said. "Effective immediately I am implementing a zero-tolerance policy with regard to INS employees who fail to abide by headquarters-issued policy and field guidance." He promised violators would be disciplined.

KEY QUESTIONS:

Are Islamic militants in Pakistan targeting Americans in an attempt to divide the anti-terrorism coalition?

Should the INS be disbanded and reorganized?

WHO'S WHO:

Gen. Pervez Musharraf: Pakistani president

Daniel Pearl: Wall Street Journal reporter who was kidnapped and executed by his captors

James Ziglar: Commissioner for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service