Californians were told last night there was credible evidence that terrorists were targeting four of their bridges, including the Golden Gate Bridge.

Californian Governor Gray Davis - citing information he said came from several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI - said terrorists were plotting a rush-hour attack on the Golden Gate Bridge or Bay Bridge, both in San Francisco, the Vincent Thomas Bridge at the Port of Los Angeles, or the Coronado Bridge in San Diego.

He said the attacks were planned between today and next Friday.

Security around the bridges had been heightened and involved personnel ranging from the US Coast Guard to the California Highway Patrol.

Meanwhile, Tony Blair is to charter Concorde to fly to Washington on Wednesday - the first day the supersonic jet flies passengers out of Britain since last year's air disaster.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister received another harsh lesson in Middle East politics on the latest leg of his exhausting diplomatic mission.

Israeli forces killed two more Palestinian militants just as he arrived in the country in his attempt to breathe new life into the peace process.

Mr Blair stated his message that it was time for the bloodshed to stop and for talks to resume at meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Following his meeting in Gaza City with Mr Arafat, Mr Blair issued an impassioned appeal for all sides to come together to bridge the "gulf of misunderstanding" between the West and the Arab world.

Earlier, following his meeting in Jerusalem with Mr Sharon, Mr Blair came as close as he could to condemning the "targeted killings" of Palestinian militants without provoking a rift with Israel.

"I believe it is important that any measures that are taken in relation to security are measured and proper in accordance with international law," he said.