Bush visits Minnesota bridge disaster

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- President George Bush said Saturday he wants to see the collapsed 35W bridge in Minneapolis rebuilt as quickly as possible, although he wasn't more specific.

The president flew to the Twin Cities for a first-hand look at the scene of the spectacular disaster and the ongoing recovery efforts.

The St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer-Press reported that Bush did not offer a timetable for rebuilding the span, which was a major transportation route across the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities. Washington has pledged its assistance, and Minnesota Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., is chairman of the influential House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Bush spoke briefly to the crowd and met with some of the rescue workers looking for any bodies still trapped within the rubble.

Five people were killed and nearly 100 were injured when the bridge fell without warning into the river during Wednesday's evening rush hour.