Plane triggers false alert in Washington

WASHINGTON - An unidentified aircraft violated restricted airspace over Washington on Wednesday evening (US time), prompting orders to evacuate the US Capitol and surrounding office buildings, US officials said.

Some senior white house staff were hustled out of the west wing during the brief scare, but a Secret Service agent at the White House later said the alert had been called off.

Capitol Police sent a message to senators saying they were "tracking an unidentified aircraft."

"All persons in the US Capitol, Hart, Dirksen and Russell buildings should evacuate now."

The House was in session in the middle of a vote on transportation funding when the chamber was cleared.

Tight security precautions have been in effect around the US capital since the September 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon building near Washington.

- REUTERS