Neo-Nazi skinheads Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tennessee, and Paul Schlesselman 18, of West Helena, Arkansas, planned to target an unnamed high school with predominantly African American students, court records show.

Jim Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of the Nashville field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the two men planned to shoot 88 black people and decapitate another 14.

"They said that would be their last, final act - that they would attempt to kill Senator Obama," Mr Cavanaugh said.

"They didn't believe they would be able to do it, but that they would get killed trying."

They are charged with possessing an unregistered firearm, conspiring to steal firearms from a federally-licensed gun dealer, and threatening a candidate for president.

The investigation is continuing and more charges are possible, Mr Cavanaugh added.

A spokeswoman travelling with the senator in Pennsylvania had no immediate comment. . .