Washington: US President George W Bush on November 27 announced the setting up of an independent commission under the chairmanship of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to investigate the government's failure in preventing the September 11 terrorist attacks on America.

The commission would carefully examine "all the evidence and follow all the facts wherever they lead," Bush told lawmakers, survivors and families of the victims of the September 11 attacks.

"We must uncover every detail and learn every lesson of September 11," he said at the White House.

"This commission will help me and the future Presidents to understand the methods of America's enemies and the nature of the threats we face," the President said.

"Dr Kissinger will bring broad experience, clear thinking and careful judgement to this important task," he said.

Kissinger, 79, told reporters that the commission would be bipartisan and carry out the President's mandate.

Pledging that the commission would "go where the facts lead us", he said, "We are under no restrictions and we will accept no restrictions."

PTI