Obama to discuss counterterrorism strategy

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama will discuss his counterterrorism strategy on Thursday, revealing to the American public his plans for unmanned drones and Guantanamo Bay, the White House said on Sunday.

During his speech at the National Defense University in Washington, the president will discuss "our broad counter-terrorism policy, including our military, diplomatic, intelligence and legal efforts," a White House official told AFP.

"He will review the state of the threats we face, particularly as Al-Qaeda core has weakened but new dangers have emerged." The speech will come a little more than a month after the deadly twin bombings in Boston blamed on two ethnic Chechen brothers who lived in the United States for several years.

Mr Obama's address will also discuss his administration's "policy and legal framework" to counter extremist threats, including the use of drones, according to the official, who requested anonymity.