WASHINGTON, April 30 (RIA Novosti) - U.S. President
Barack Obama said his administration had "responded to an
extraordinary set of economic challenges" in a press conference
marking his first 100 days in office.
"Our most urgent task has been to clear away the wreckage,
repair the immediate damage to the economy, and do everything
we can to prevent a larger collapse. And since the problems we
face are all working off each other to feed a vicious economic
downturn, we've had no choice but to attack all fronts of our
economic crisis at once," he said.
The U.S. leader called the initial steps introduced to
deal with the economic downturn "a good start", but "just a
start," and cautioned that "Millions of Americans are still
without jobs and homes, and more will be lost before this
recession is over."
He urged patience, and with the U.S. economy shrinking by
6.1% in the first quarter of 2009 said it would take time to
turn the situation round.
Obama said that in addition to the economy, the country
still faces threats "from terrorism to nuclear proliferation to
pandemic flu."
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention said
Wednesday that one person had died and 91 people in the U.S.
had been confirmed with swine flu. The virus, which started in
Mexico, has killed at least eight people worldwide.
Obama called the public health situation "serious" and
said the country would do whatever it takes to deal with the
crisis adding: "Because this is a new strain, we have to be
cautious."
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