Reno confirms inquiry

Washington - The US Attorney General, Ms Janet Reno, said yesterday she was pursuing a "massive" criminal investigation that …

Washington - The US Attorney General, Ms Janet Reno, said yesterday she was pursuing a "massive" criminal investigation that could lead to an independent counsel inquiry into President Clinton's campaign fund-raising activities.

"If there's specific and credible information developed that the President may have violated the law, we trigger the [independent counsel] statute," she said. She added that the investigation had not yet turned up any indication of criminal activity. Meanwhile, a White House counsel, Mr Charles Ruff, took responsibility for the delay in telling Ms Reno about 44 videotapes showing Mr Clinton greeting political supporters. The tapes were long sought by the investigators as evidence of Mr Clinton's use of the White House for fund-raising.