Heavy security grips U.S. capital for inauguration day

Source: Xinhua | 01-20-2009 14:44

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- As U.S. President-elect Barack Obama officially launched inauguration celebrations in the National Mall grounds in front of the Lincoln Memorial Sunday afternoon, the nation's capital is experiencing an unprecedented security clamp-down ahead of the historic swearing-in of a first African-American president.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle  arrive at the 'We Are One' Inaugural Celebration at the  Lincoln Memorial in Washington, January 18, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

The inauguration, the presence of dignitaries and the record-breaking magnitude of on-site spectators seem to best justify the creation of what will be the most extensive and toughest safety net to date for a presidential swearing-in.

In recent days, authorities have been gradually increasing measures to enforce road and bridge closures and establish security cordons across the downtown area, making throngs of people at checkpoints and mass transit systems, rarely seen on ordinary days, a sight of normalcy.

Outgoing President George W. Bush has declared a state of emergency for the District of Columbia during Jan. 17 to 21, the first time for the United States to do so for the inauguration of a president.

The move allows the federal government to provide extra funding to the district's government agencies, in addition to the 15 million U.S. dollars already approved by the Congress to cover inauguration security costs.