Both officers -- Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson -- died in hospital soon after yesterday's shootout in which the gunman, identified as 41-year-old white man Eugene Weston, was also injured.

Police today said the attacker has a two-year history in the police records of making death threats against President Bill Clinton.

Clinton expressing sorrow over the incident, said he was deeply disturbed by ``the bloodshed at the people's House where visitors and workers should not have to fear violence''.

The Capitol, where the House of Representatives and Senate meet and which is open to hundreds of visitors daily, is heavily guarded by Capitol officers.

There have been incidents during the 198 years Congress has been meeting there but yesterday's was the worst.

There is electronic screening but apparently the gunmanmanaged to storm through.

The gunman entered through doors on the east side of the Capitol, said police spokesman Dan Nichols. His weapon set off a metal detector, and the gunfire followed.

Everyone who enters the building, except for lawmakers and security officials, is required to pass through at least one metal detector and sometimes two.

``The gunman came into our office and started firing,'' said John Feehery, a spokesman for House Republican whip Tom Delay of Texas. ``We heard 20 shots.'' Delay, the official who makes sure that individual members vote in accordance with the party leadership's wishes, has his office on the first floor of the Capitol.

Feehery said a police officer assigned to protect the office, ``did a great job .... in stopping the perpetrator.''

Neither Delay nor any other member of Congress was wounded.