Britain readies for military action against Afghanistan

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Sunday, October 7 8:57 AM SGT

Britain readies for military action against Afghanistan

LONDON, Oct 7 (AFP) - Britain was on Sunday gearing up for military strikes against Afghanistan's Taliban regime after Prime Minister Tony Blair returned from a whirlwind tour abroad stressing that the international coaliton against terrorism was firmly in place and ready to act.

Blair landed in London late Saturday from a two-day diplomatic mission to Russia, Pakistan and India, where he was seeking to shore up the US-led coalition following the September 11 terror strikes on New York and Washington.

Speaking aboard his chartered flight during its return from New Delhi, Blair told journalists: "We have obviously been prepared since September 11 and those preparations for any military actions are there, so that's clear."

"The Taliban regime have had now three weeks when it's been made quite clear what they have to do to avoid being targeted," he told Sky News.

"There are very, very important reasons for taking this action. For a long time there was an insufficient world consensus about taking such action, but there is now."

Blair called the political and diplomatic coalition against terrorism "very strong".

"Things are coming into place. The timing of any action is a matter to be discussed with our close allies," he added.

Writing in Sunday's News Of The World tabloid, the prime minister added: "For years, despite all our efforts, it has not been possible to get the international agreement needed to tackle this problem in Afghanistan properly. That agreement is now there. It is time to use it."

He wrote: "It is precisely because I am prime minister of the UK first and last that I am so determined to do all we can to root out those responsible for the September 11 attacks, to eradicate the network of terror behind them and to help Afghanistan and the region become more stable."

Blair's trip to Pakistan and Russia were seen as critical in the bid to shore up the international coalition against terrorism.

Pakistan is a key element in the coalition targeting Osama bin Laden -- prime suspect of the attacks on the US -- as it not only borders Afghanistan, where he is based, but has also in the past supported the country's ruling Taliban regime.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also seen as a hugely influential figure in the former Soviet states bordering Afghanistan such as Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which could provide a launch pad for military action.

On Saturday, US ground troops and planes began arriving in Uzbekistan, however its President Islam Karimov has said no ground attacks or air strikes were to be launched from Uzbek territory, nor are US special forces to operate there.

Some or all of more than 23,000 British soldiers, sailors and airmen taking part in military exercises in Oman could be called upon to take part in any US-led retaliatory strikes, British newspapers have said.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2001


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