The White House in Washington, D.C., was evacuated for a short time today.
The White House Secret Service said the evacuation was due to an "emergency situation". Staff were later allowed to return to the building.
An aide to President George Bush said staff were told to go to a nearby streetbut were allowed to go back to their desks a short time later.
"The threat level was never raised," he said.
On November 10th, Air Force fighter jets scrambled to intercept a private planethat flew too close to the White House. That plane was later determined not tobe a threat.
The president was also away at that time.
