The issue focused on the role of the United States' role as the principal sponsor of international terrorism, a major theme of Mr. Obama's campaign, a statement by the State Department said. It added that it would provide "the legal framework for the United States to respond to international terrorism threats."

The statement was not immediately available, and Mr. Obama had not released a full statement.

On Tuesday, Mr. Obama said that the threat of terrorism was "real" but added that "the only