WASHINGTON - The Pentagon says 5131 Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard troops have been ordered to active duty as part of a "homeland defence" mobilisation authorised by President George W Bush.
The activation was the first made under an order signed by Bush last week authorising the call-upof up to 50,000 part-time armed forces troops in the wake of the September 11 attack on the Pentagon and New York City's World Trade Center.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said in a brief announcement on Thursday the Air Force troops were from 29 units in 24 states and the District of Columbia.
The mobilisation was ordered by Bush to increase military protection of US skies and seaports and to help civil authorities restore order after hijacked airliners were slammed into US defence headquarters and both towers of the Trade Center.
All of the units involved in Thursday's announcement were from fighter jet wings and air traffic control units to support high-alert status at 26 domestic military air bases to help protect the country from further air attacks.
