US refutes French reports of imminent bomb blast

The White House says it has no information that would confirm French minister's statement that one of two bombs intercepted in Dubai and the UK last week was in danger of exploding.

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WASHINGTON // The White House says it has no information that would confirm a French government report that one of two bombs mailed to the United States last week was diffused just minutes before exploding.

French Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux told state-run France-2 television that one of the packages was just 17 minutes away from exploding when investigators disarmed it.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday the question of when the bombs were to go off is still under investigation and there is no information confirming such a close call.

US investigators have also said they were unable to confirm the French report.