Obama announces tougher counter-terror measures

Barack Obama has taken full responsibility for intelligence failures, that allowed a would-be bomber onboard a US airliner.

The US president has announced tougher counter-terror measures, almost 2 weeks after the failed Christmas Day attack.

Barack Obama took responsibility for security mistakes that led to the Christmas day plot and suggested no officials would be sacked as a result of the investigation.

Barack Obama, US president, said, "As President I have a solemn responsibility to protect our nation and our people, and when the system fails it is my responsibility."

He's directed US intelligence agencies to investigate ALL leads "on high-priority threats," and to distribute intelligence reports more rapidly and widely.

U.S. President Barack Obama makes statements to outline steps the U.S. government is taking to try to shore up airline security, at the White House in Washington January 7, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)