Terror scare at White House

The White House was evacuated this afternoon due to what the secret service initially described as an "emergency situation".

Staff, tourists and reporters were ushered out of the building after reports of a plane entering the airspace near the US executive mansion.

The move came as a series of bomb attacks rocked Istanbul and hundreds of protesters took to the streets of London to voice their disapproval of President Bush's state visit to Britain.

Officials later said the situation had been "resolved" and people were allowed back into the building.