Suspicious package alert disrupts Washington subway

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Police on Wednesday gave the all-clear after a suspicious package was found on a subway train near the center of Washington, closing three stations and disrupting traffic along a major route through the city.

A bomb squad X-rayed the box found aboard a train stopped at the Dupont Circle station on the Red Line a mile from the heart of downtown Washington and discovered it was full of papers, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority spokeswoman Candace Smith said.

As a precaution, the team used a water cannon to ensure the package was not a danger, she said.

The stations were closed for about two hours after the package was reported, delaying commuters along one of the area's most heavily traveled transit lines at the start of the afternoon rush hour.

Washington authorities are frequently called to investigate suspicious packages as a precaution following the September 11attacks on New York and Washington.

Metro trains were already operating at slower speeds than usual because of hot summer weather hitting the city.

The delays in Washington followed widespread disruption to the expansive New York City subway system on Wednesday morning because of heavy rains there.