US citizens the world over were warned to be on their guard against reprisal attacks following the launch of bombing raids against Afghanistan by the US and Britain. President George Bush told the American people the attacks were carefully measured and would be accompanied by humanitarian food drops.
The initial strike was made with Tomahawk missiles from US and British ships and submarines in the Arabian Sea and were targeted on air defences and known Al-Qaeda bases in or near at least five cities. Attacks continued in waves over several hours.
Briefing journalists, the US Defence Secretary, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, said that several waves of attacks had involved 15 land-based bombers, both B52s and Stealth bombers from the US and Diego Garcia in the Pacific, 25 strike aircraft from carriers, and the use of 50 Tomahawk missiles fired from ship and submarines.
An initial phase of humanitarian drops would involve two C17 planes and some 37,500 rations as well as medical supplies. He said the US had not, as yet, taken casualties, denying claims by the Taliban that they had shot down a plane.
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In a prepared statement carried on Al-Jazeera TV, a Qatari cable channel, Osama bin Laden responded by declaring a war on behalf of Islam against the US. Pictured in fatigues at an unknown location, he pledged that Americans would not know safety and security until Afghanistan does. "America was hit by God in one of its softest spots," he said. "America is full of fear from its north to its south, from its west to its east. Thank God for that."
Later a Taliban spokesman claimed that bin Laden and Mullah Mohammed Omar, the Taliban leader, survived the attacks.
Both President Bush and the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, however, went out of their way to stress that the war they were fighting was not against Islam or the Afghani people but those, Mr Bush said, who had perverted a peace-loving religion.
Mr Bush, speaking to the American people from the Treaty Room of the White House at 1 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), said that the initial attack was "carefully targeted" and was on both Al-Qaeda bases and Taliban defences.
They were clearing the way for what would be a "sustained, comprehensive, and relentless campaign to drive them [Al-Qaeda] out and bring them to justice," he said.
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He said that two weeks ago he had delivered a clear set of demands to the Afghani Government. It had not responded. "Now the Taliban will pay a price," he said.
The President, who had forewarned the Russians and congressional leaders, said that some 40 countries had supported the US campaign against terrorism by offering air access and landing rights and that four, in addition to Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany and France, had offered troops for future action. "We are supported by the collective will of the world."
Tonight he spoke to directly to many world leaders. He paid tribute to US forces and the sacrifices they might have to make but assured them "your mission is defined, objectives clear, and goal just....We will not fail."
The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, in a televised address last night, reiterated his contention that there was "no doubt" on the evidence he had seen about the culpability of bin Laden and Al-Qaeda and of the role of the Taliban in protecting them. The latter had been given "the choice to stick with justice or terror. They chose to stick with terror," he said. He promised that US and British forces "will do all they humanly can to avoid civilian casualties."
The Taliban Ambassador to Islamabad, Mr Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef condemned the "power-drunk" US and declared the assault to be a "terrorist attack", vowing that America "will never achieve its goal."
Before the attacks he claimed that the Taliban were now willing to put Osama bin Laden on trial before an Islamic court, but said the country was preparing to resist a US onslaught. Some 8,000 more troops were being deployed to the Uzbek border, he said.
In Karachi, Mr Rehmatullah Kakazada, the Taliban consul-general said "We are ready for Jihad," or holy war.
A freelance journalist speaking from Kandahar, Afghanistan's second city and seat of the Taliban headquarters, reported the destruction of a command base and radar system at Kandahar airport. He described "very loud explosions" and strikes against power plants which had taken out power in the city. Large numbers were fleeing the city.
Later, CNN said the home of the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, was under attack in a second wave. Some anti-aircraft fire was heard.
Strikes were also reported against Jallalabad where the local Taliban radio service went off the air. Northern Alliance forces were also involved in several exchanges of artillery fire and land clashes with the Taliban.
The attacks were acknowledged in a surprise announcement from the White House by the President's spokesman, Mr Ari Fleischer, at around 12.40 p.m. (EST) just minutes after TV stations began to report explosions in Kabul.
"We are beginning another front in our war against terrorism so that freedom can prevail," he said, then announcing that the President would speak to the nation.
Earlier the White House had quickly rejected a renewed offer from Taliban leaders to try terrorist suspect bin Laden in Afghanistan spokesman Scott McClellan said: "The president's demands are clear and non-negotiable."
Some hint of the attacks was obtained early in the day from northern Afghanistan where Dr Abdullah Abdullah, foreign minister of the opposition Northern Alliance, said early yesterday that US air strikes on the Taliban were probably just hours away. "I'm not saying soon, I'm saying very soon," he told journalists.
He said the alliance had complied with a US request to close its airspace and grounded its small fleet of helicopters and fixed wing planes a few hours before the attack began.
Mr Bush ignored shouted questions yesterday morning when he went to Emmitsburg, Maryland, to participate in an annual memorial service for fallen firefighters.
"Our nation still mourns," he told the service. "The courage and loss we saw in New York we've seen in every community that has laid a firefighter to rest." The country lost 101 firefighters on the job last year and more than 300 in the attack that brought down the World Trade Center.
