D.C. Mayor Says Officials Unaware of Alert

[deminks]

WASHINGTON - While the Capitol, White House and other federal buildings were being evacuated Wednesday, city officials were unaware that a small plane had flown into restricted airspace over the capital, Mayor Anthony Williams said.

The mayor said city officials weren't notified until after the all-clear was sounded.

"Critical and potentially life-or-death information about threats facing district residents needs to be shared immediately — not five, 10 or 15 minutes after the fact," Williams said. "I am concerned about the apparent delay in alerting key decision-makers in the city."

The John A. Wilson Building, which houses the mayor's and District of Columbia Council offices and is two blocks from the White House, was not evacuated. Other city offices are also near federal installations that were evacuated.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050512/ap_on_go_pr_wh/capital_alert_dc