Blair backs US military response

The British Prime Minister Tony Blair has come out firmly behind America in its planned military response to the US atrocity.

Although Mr Blair urged caution, saying it was a time for calm heads and cool nerves, he nonetheless said Britain would stand side by side with its American ally in bringing those responsible to justice.

When questioned about widespread support for possible military strikes, the prime minister said he had discussed the matter with US President George Bush. ‘When the conflict comes we have to be prepared to face up to it’, he said.

‘I do think that the whole of the civilised world will stand together. I spoke to President Chirac [of France] yesterday. The whole of Europe will stand by America on this.’

Mr Blair has been spending the weekend in talks with senior ministers, military and intelligence advisors. When pressed on whether the military response would be a NATO action or involve non-NATO forces, he said it was premature to talk about the exact nature of the response.

But the prime minister stressed that the time has come to dismantle the ‘the menace of international terrorism’.