Japan backs US anti-terrorist drive

Japan's chief Cabinet secretary said his country will do whatever it can to support the United States against acts of terrorism.

Yasuo Fukuda conveyed his comments about "evil, callous" acts to reporters

at an emergency news conference.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held an emergency meeting with

key Cabinet members around midnight Monday, and also called President Bush

to express his condolences about the apparent terrorist attacks in New York

and Washington.

News of the attacks first reached Tokyo around 10 pm local time on Tuesday,

the peak hour for nightly news.

"The United States appears to be under attack," said Hiroshi Kume, one of

Japan's most prominent news anchors. "The country seems to be falling apart."

More than 20 Japanese financial institutions have offices in the World

Trade Center.

Japan itself has not been immune to terrorist attacks. In 1995, the Tokyo

subway lines were attacked by a religious cult that released deadly gas

during peak rush hour, killing nearly 20 people and sickening hundreds of

commuters.