AFP | May 29, 2009

US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said Wednesday she now knows 9/11 terrorists did not enter the United States from Canada, seeking to bury controversy over a diplomatic gaffe.

"I know that 9/11 terrorists did not cross the Canadian border," Napolitano told reporters, referring to an "earlier misstatement" used to justify increased security at the United States’ northern frontier.

[efoods]She had made the comment in a television interview with Canadian public broadcaster CBC in April, provoking outrage in this country.

"Terrorists have come into our country or suspected or known terrorists have entered our country across … the Canadian border," she was quoted as saying.

Her office immediately issued a correction, but not before the falsehood was spread by others, including US Senator John McCain who told Fox News: "Some of the 9/11 hijackers did come through Canada, as you know."