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World reacts to the U.S.-led attacks

Blair: "We know that sometimes, to safeguard peace, we have to fight"

HONG KONG and LONDON (CNN) -- Global response to the attacks on Afghanistan ranges from support, to silence, to outrage.

Many countries were swift to lend their support, including the E.U., Japan, Russia, Pakistan, Israel and Australia.

Governments or nations speaking out against the campaign include Iraq and Iran.

Among those countries that have remained silent are Uzbekistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk VIDEO Blair talks to reporters about the military campaign (October 7) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   VIDEO Chirac addresses the French nation (October 7) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   AUDIO EU's International Policy Chief Javier Solana: "This operation is fully legitimate" 820KB / 76 secs WAV sound   RESOURCES Blair speech: Full text     MORE STORIES Europe rallies behind attacks   Peres praises 'brave' attacks   Beijing hopes for peace   Iran, Iraq condemn attacks   Congress backs Bush   Asia voices support   Malaysia opposes air strikes

The Bush administration says it will be closely monitoring international reaction, particularly amongst the Arab states and countries such as Indonesia and Pakistan which have a predominantly Muslim population.

Europe

Eurpean Union

The European Union's top executive, Romano Prodi, said the whole of Europe stood alongside the United States and Britain.

"At this difficult, solemn and dramatic moment, all Europe stands steadfast with the United States and its coalition allies to pursue the fight against terrorism," the European Commission president said in a statement.

Britain

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the start of the attacks on Sunday was "a moment of the utmost gravity."

"On the diplomatic and political fronts, in the time I have been prime minister, I cannot recall a situation that has commanded so quickly such a powerful coalition of support -- not just from those countries directly involved in military action but from many others in all parts of the world," he said.

Blair, who is recalling parliament on Monday for its third emergency session since the September 11 terrorist attacks, said military action would be "targeted against places we know to be involved in the al Qaeda network of terror or against the military apparatus of the Taliban."

"We have set the objectives to eradicate Osama bin Laden's network of terror and to take action against the Taliban regime that is sponsoring him," he said.

France

France last week agreed to open its airspace to U.S. military aircraft and said its navy would provide logistical support to United States naval groups in the Indian Ocean.

"The fight against terrorism is a fight that is complex, difficult and that has to be played on several fronts. It is not just a military fight ... for this action facing us, the French are united ... We are all united," French President Jacques Chirac said.

Russia

President Vladimir Putin said he was certain the U.S. was doing everything possible to avoid civilian losses in Afghanistan.

He also told a regular weekly meeting of key cabinet ministers that humanity had "grown up" and terrorist groups could no longer play one world power off against another, Interfax news agency reported.

Putin added, the U.S. had been forced into a response and that the terrorists had "provoked the leadership of the leading countries of the world to such a turn of events." But this time, he said, "the terrorists miscalculated."

Germany

In Germany, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said his government gave its "unreserved backing" to action against what he called "terrorist targets" in Afghanistan.

"There is no alternative to this struggle, which we must win and will win," said Schroeder after meeting with his security council.

Italy

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he supported the attack on Afghanistan, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

"Italy is on the side of the United States and of all those who are committed to the fight against terrorism," Berlusconi was quoted by Reuters.

Berlusconi has said that Italy was ready to provide material help for the United States in any military action.

Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said the attack was justified self-defence.

He reiterated Spain's offer to put all means necessary at the disposal of the military coalition, including Spanish bases and personnel.

Turkey

Turkey also gave its full support to the U.S. and British air strikes.

"Turkey supports the United States as a responsible ally and friend in its struggle against terrorism," said Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

He said Turkey, NATO's only member with a predominately Muslim population, had stepped up security at home and abroad.

Cyprus

Cyprus also offered backing. Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides reiterated his government's support for the United States and stressed "that this war is not against Islam but only against terrorism."

Cassoulides's government, which holds power in a part of the divided island populated predominantly by Orthodox Christians, had earlier placed its airports at the disposal of the U.S. military for its anti-terrorist strikes.

Middle East

Israel

Israel has offered its support to the U.S.-led military strikes on Afghanistan, praising President George W. Bush for a "brave decision."

Israeli Defense Minister Shimon Peres told CNN's Larry King: "We see in the United States the leader of this campaign, and we shall not do anything that may frustrate or endanger the campaign itself.

"We feel part and parcel of this campaign, and, if it should be asked, everything will be considered, seriously and positively."

Iran

Iran issued a statement condemning the strikes and said the attack on its neighbor was "unacceptable" and would hurt innocent Afghan civilians.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said the attacks "were carried out without regard to world public opinion and particularly the Islamic countries."

While condemning the September 11 attacks in the U.S., Iran has said any response should be led by the United Nations, not Washington.

Tehran has ordered its armed forces to seal its 900-kilometer (560-mile) border with Afghanistan to stop a possible flood of refugees joining about two million Afghans already in the country.

Iran's defence minister said last week Iranian forces would "confront" any U.S. aircraft that strayed into its airspace.

Iraq

Iraq also condemned the attacks on Afghanistan.

"What America did today is that it had targeted a country and people who are among the poorest in the world," a statement from Baghdad said.

"Anybody would condemn this attack, not because it's coming from America or because it's against Muslims and a Muslim country -- but because it was done outside the framework of international law and because America didn't present a convincing proof against those it accuses of terrorism."

The statement added: "What is needed is wisdom, not force. If security is what is pursued, then we don't need revenge and to hurt people as a response to any acts that had hurt others.

Syria

In Syria, the state-run Syria Times said: "Terrorists are those (forces) of evil that violate human rights and kill innocent people.

"They are not only the terrorists of New York and Washington, they are also the Israeli occupation troops that kill defenseless Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Bring them all to justice."

Jordan

Jordan said in an official statement on Monday that it "supports the international efforts to combat terrorism, but stresses the necessity of refraining from inflicting human losses upon the innocent civilians in Afghanistan."

It also called for dealing "with the primary reasons which are causing frustration in our region and this means a just solution to the Palestinian problem."

Asia

Taliban

Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salam Zaeef said the "brutal" attacks were as "horrendous, terrorist acts as any in the world.

"America has always chosen the military approach...the Afghans will rise against the new colonialist."

Pakistan

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf warned anti-Taliban forces against exploiting U.S.-led air strikes on Afghanistan, adding that he hoped the military action would end quickly.

Musharraf, who described Sunday's attacks as precisely targeted, said: "The Northern Alliance must not draw mileage out of this action and the post-action has to be balanced."

He also stressed that the U.S-British strikes were not on Afghan cities but on military facilities near the cities, saying the strikes were "against terrorists, terrorism, their sanctuaries and their supporters."

"One is hoping, and I have definite assurances, that this operation will be short, targeted and should not have collateral damage," he said.

Indonesia

In the world's most populous Muslim nation, a hard-line Islamic group, the Islamic Defenders Front, has called on supporters to besiege the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta and has given President Megawati Sukarnoputri a three-day deadline to cut diplomatic ties with the United States.

The group threatened to hunt foreigners and target U.S. facilities if the government did not cease relations with the U.S, also urging the government to send mujahidins to Afghanistan.

International schools remained closed on Monday and the U.S. and Australian embassies urged their nationals to remain at home.

Malaysia

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has backed Washington's war on terrorism but not an attack on Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, said an outright war could result in "catastrophe" in the central Asian state.

"Conventional war cannot overcome terrorism and defeat terrorists, it can only result in innocent people becoming victims," he said.

"The terrorists may get away. Even if they are killed or captured, so long as there are still terrorists around, there's no guarantee that others will not terrorise."

"That is why the Malaysian government does not agree with declaring war against countries said to be harbouring terrorism. It will only lead to catastrophe for such a country," he said.

Philippines

Small bombs caused minor damage to three hotels in the southern Philippins early Monday, though there was no indication they were connected to the September 11 attacks or to retaliatory strikes on Afghanistan.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has given president Bush her nation's support in its anti-terror campaign and has opened its ports to the U.S. Navy if needed.

Five percent of the Philippine population is Muslim, with some hard-line elements prevalent in the country's south. There are ties between the Abu Sayyaf militant group and bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network.

China

Beijing gave a cautious endorsement to the military strikes in Afghanistan and hoped peace could be resumed "as soon as possible".

A foreign ministry spokesman said the Chinese government "opposes terrorism of any form and supports actions to combat terrorism" but said that the action should be undertaken according to "relevant resolutions passed by the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council."

Diplomatic sources in the Chinese capital said Beijing was also anxious that the forces of the U.S. and its allies leave the area as soon as terrorist cells had been rooted out.

Japan

"Our country strongly supports these actions to combat terrorism," Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters at an emergency news conference early Monday.

Koizumi has repeatedly said Japan would offer logistical support to any U.S.-led military campaign and introduced bills into parliament last week to allow its military to guard U.S. bases and also provide logistical support.

South Korea

The South Korean government gave its strong support for the strikes.

"The multinational military attacks led by the United States against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan are justified, and the government and the people of the Republic of Korea actively support this," a presidential Blue House spokesman quoted government spokesman Park Joon-young as saying, Reuters news agency reported.

Park said the South Korean government would offer all necessary support and cooperation.

Australia

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, in the middle of a federal election campaign, said the strikes on Afghanistan were "an understandable precursor" to other actions after the Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden.

Howard said US vice-president Dick Cheney rang him from the White House about an hour before the strikes began to alert him and to thank him again for the offer of Australian military help. The Chief of the Australian Defence Force was also briefed by Pentagon officials.

Australian troops were not involved yet, Howard said, but has offered a 150-man commando squadron from the Special Air Service, two Boeing 707 air refuelling aircraft, naval ships and two P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft.

New Zealand

New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said the use of force was justified.

"The nature of the terrorist organisation is that it's beyond the reach of law," he told Television New Zealand.

"I think everybody in the international community accepted that force would need to be used along the way but really pushed hard for a minimum amount of civilian casualties to be incurred in this attack."

North and South America/Caribbean

Canada

Canada reiterated its support for the anti-terrorism campaign.

"We are part of an unprecedented coalition of nations that has come together to fight the threat of terrorism ... Canada will be part of this coalition every step of the way," Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said.

Mexico

Giving his nation's support, Mexican President Vicente Fox also offered to aid in the fight through an exchange of intelligence and a tight control of the Mexican-U.S. border.

In a national television address Fox said he received assurances the U.S.-led strikes would not target civilians or a particular religion.

"It is focused on battling the grand problems of terrorism in all of its manifestations," said Fox. "For this reason the Mexican government firmly supports these actions."

Argentina

Argentina, the only Latin American Argentina, country to send troops to the 1991 Gulf War said it supported the U.S.-led attacks on Afghanistan.

"From the beginning, Argentina has expressed its solidarity with the United States," President Fernando de la Rua said.

Cuba denounced the military operations against Afghanistan as "a war in favour of terrorism" and "a cure worse than the disease."

A statement from President Fidel Castro's communist government questioned the motives of the United States in launching the attacks.

"This is not a war against terrorism, which should and could be defeated by other truly effective, rapid, and strong measures at our disposal," the statement said.

"This is a war in favour of terrorism, where military operations will make it much more difficult and complicated to eradicate. A cure worse than the disease."

The Castro government has repeatedly condemned the attacks on the United States, but even more strenuously warned against military retaliation.

"An entire country has been made into a testing ground for the most modern weapons ever invented. ... This is a war of the most sophisticated technology against those who do not know how to read and write," the statement said.