No evidence of plot to kill Obama, says justice official

DENVER, Colorado - US authorities said Tuesday they had found no evidence of a plot to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama following the arrest of three men and seizure of a weapons cache.

US Attorney Troy Eid told a press conference that following an exhaustive investigation, officials were satisfied that the arrested men were all drug abusers who did not pose a credible threat to Obama.

"Let me be clear: we've conducted an intensive investigation, chased down numerous leads and carefully reviewed the evidence to date," Eid said.

"It is a very serious federal crime to threaten a presidential candidate. In this case, however, there is insufficient evidence at this time to indicate a true threat, plot or conspiracy against Senator Obama."

The three men were arrested after a traffic stop uncovered wigs, two hunting rifles, body armour and drug-making equipment on Sunday, the eve of the Democratic Party's four-day-long national convention here which is to end by officially naming Obama the party's presidential nominee.

Eid said there was no evidence any of the arrested men had ties to racist or white supremacist organisations but they had made racist comments about Obama, telling a drug user prior to arrest that no "nigger" should be president.

However, Eid said it was important to make a distinction between the "racist rantings" of habitual drug users and a credible attempt on Obama's life.

"Reported threats, hateful and bigoted though they were, involved a group of meth heads, methamphetamine abusers, all of whom were impaired at the time and they cannot independently (be) corroborated," Eid said.

"The evidence involving alleged threats does not warrant federal charges. But the investigation is ongoing and we are keeping an open mind."

"What matters at this moment, from a legal point of view the law recognises a difference between a true threat - one that can be carried out... and the racist rantings of drug users."

Eid said most of the racist remarks were allegedly made by convicted felon Shawn Robert Adolf, in conversation with another drug user.

Adolf is charged with illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of body armour as well as possession of methamphetamine.

Another man, Nathan Johnson, who attempted to escape from police by jumping from the sixth floor of a hotel, is charged with illegal possession of a firearm and possession of a small quantity of methamphetamine.

In a television interview earlier Tuesday, Johnson said his friends had intended to shoot Obama from a "high vantage point" on Thursday night at the 75,000-seat Invesco stadium.

"He don't belong in political office. Blacks don't belong in political office. He ought to be shot," Johnson said as he explained the motivations of his friends.

The probe was launched Sunday after a police officer spotted the third man, Tharin Gartrell, driving a truck erratically in a suburb of Denver. Gartrell has been charged with drug possession, authorities said Tuesday.

The incident was the latest sombre reminder of security risks faced by presidential hopefuls, and anxieties felt by many supporters for Obama, who was given Secret Service protection earlier in the presidential campaign than any other candidate.

The incident is also being probed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service and the joint terrorism task force.

Campaign communications director Robert Gibbs said no change was being made to Obama's schedule in light of the arrests.

The Illinois senator is due in Denver on Wednesday, ahead of his acceptance address the next day.

A tight security blanket has been draped across Denver to protect tens of thousands of supporters and protestors who descended on the city for the Democratic Party's political extravaganza.

An estimated 3,000 to 5,000 police and security personnel from 55 agencies, including the FBI and US military, are being deployed.