US President George W. Bush pushed the Congress on Thursday to make permanent major provisions of the controversial USA Patriot Act that would otherwise expire at the end of the year, saying the law helps protect American citizens.

"My message to Congress is clear: The terrorist threats against us will not expire at the end of the year, and neither should the protections of the Patriot Act," Bush said during a visit to Ohio.

Bush dismissed accusations that the law, which was rushed in Congress weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, has violated civil liberties.

"The Patriot Act has not diminished American liberties. The Patriot Act has helped defend American liberties," Bush said.

Civil liberty groups have criticized the law for violating the rights of law-abiding citizens by allowing law enforcement agencies to launch secret investigations, seize library and bookstore records.

Bush said the Patriot Act had been used to bring charges against more than 400 suspects, and more than half have been convicted.

He gave an example of how the law had allowed law enforcement authorities to cooperate with intelligence in arresting two years ago Iyman Faris, a truck driver in Ohio who authorities said plotted attacks on the Brooklyn Bridge as part of al Qaeda plot.

"Today, instead of planning terror attacks against the American people, Iyman Faris is sitting in an American prison," Bush said. Faris was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Source: Xinhua