Terror attacks hit U.S.
On September 11, 2001 (at 8.45 a.m.
New York Time)
By Andrew Sherry, USA TODAY
Two airplanes
slammed into New York's World Trade Center and a third hit the Pentagon in
Washington in a deadly wave of presumed terrorist attacks that shocked America
and brought air traffic nationwide to a halt. A car bomb exploded outside the
State Department, which was evacuated along with the White House and the
Capitol. Wall Street, the nation's financial hub, was shut down as the twin
110-story towers CKK of the Trade Center toppled after the crash.
President George
Bush, breaking off a visit to an elementary school in Florida, called it a
"national tragedy." "Terrorism against our nation will not
stand," he said, vowing to "hunt down and to find those folks who
committed this act."
One of the planes
that crashed into the Trade Center was American Airlines Flight 11, hijacked
after takeoff from Boston en route to Los Angeles, American Airlines said.
The planes blasted
fiery, gaping holes in the upper floors of the twin towers. A witness said he
saw bodies falling from the twin towers and people jumping out. About an hour
later, the southern tower collapsed with a roar a huge cloud of smoke; the
other tower fell about a half-hour after that.
"This is
perhaps the most audacious terrorist attack that's ever taken place in the
world," said Chris Yates, an aviation expert at Jane's Transport in London
told The Associated Press. "It takes a logistics operation from the terror
group involved that is second to none. Only a very small handful of terror
groups is on that list. ... I would name at the top of the list Osama Bin
Laden."
All planes were
grounded across the country by the Federal Aviation Administration. All bridges
and tunnels into Manhattan were closed down.
The twin disaster
at the World Trade Center happened shortly before 9 a.m. and then right around
9 a.m. (8.45 a.m. to be precise).
Heavy black smoke
billowed into the sky above the gaping holes in the side of the twin towers,
one of New York City's most famous landmarks, and debris rained down upon the
street, one of the city's busiest work areas. When the second plane hit, a
fireball of flame and smoke erupted, leaving a huge hole in the glass and steel
tower.
John
Axisa, who was getting off a PATH train to the World Trade Center, told The
Associate Press that he saw "bodies falling out" of the building. He
said he ran outside, and watched people jump out to their death . . .
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POPE: SORROW AND CONDEMNATION FOR
TRAGEDY OF
SEPT. 11 IN U.S. A.
VATICAN CITY, SEP
12, 2001 (Vatican Information Service) - The Pope dedicated today's general
audience, celebrated in St. Peter's Square, to yesterday's tragedy in the
United States, expressing his very great condemnation and his assurance of
spiritual closeness to the families of the dead and the injured.
Following is a large part of the text read by the Holy Father, which replaced
the traditional catechesis of the general audience:
"I cannot begin this audience without expressing my profound sorrow at
the terrorist attacks which yesterday brought death and destruction to
America, causing thousands of victims and injuring countless people. To the
President of the United States and to all American citizens I express my
heartfelt sorrow. In the face of such unspeakable horror we cannot but be
deeply disturbed. I add my voice to all the voices raised in these hours to
express indignant condemnation, and I strongly reiterate that the ways of
violence will never lead to genuine solutions to humanity's problems.
"Yesterday was a dark day in the history of humanity, a terrible affront
to human dignity. After receiving the news, I followed with intense concern
the developing situation, with heartfelt prayers to the Lord. How is it
possible to commit acts of such savage cruelty? The human heart has depths
from which schemes of unheard-of ferocity sometimes emerge, capable of
destroying in a moment the normal daily life of a people. But faith comes to
our aid at these times when words seem to fail. Christ's word is the only one
that can give a response to the questions which trouble our spirit. Even if
the forces of darkness appear to prevail, those who believe in God know that
evil and death do not have the final say. Christian hope is based on this
truth; at this time our prayerful trust draws strength from it.
"With deeply felt sympathy I address myself to the beloved people of the
United States in this moment of distress and consternation, when the courage
of so many men and women of good will is being sorely tested. . ."
Before the conclusion of the audience, the Pope and the faithful prayed for
the Churches of the East and the West, and, in particular, for the Church in
the United States and for heads of state "so order that, not allowing
themselves to be dominated by hatred and the spirit of retaliation, they do
everything possible to keep weapons of destruction from sowing new hatred and
new death and strive to bring light to the darkness of human affairs with
works of peace."
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EXTRA HINTS FROM OTHERs REACTIONS
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Dear
Brothers & Sisters,
Words fail us at times
like this. They can mislead us as well. In the wake of Tuesday's tragedy, I
received from CNET, a few copies of a horrific piece of e-mail: a verse
attributed to 16th century prophet Nostradamus. The eight lines seem to predict
the World Trade Center attack and the subsequent start of World War III. If
you've received this e-mail, please don't forward it: it's a malicious hoax.
Some of the words do indeed come from Nostradamus (though they've been spliced,
diced, and rearranged to form a coherent prediction). But the most worrisome
specifics--lines such as "In the city of York there will be a great
collapse, two twin brothers torn apart by chaos" and "The third big
war will begin when the big city is burning"--are fabricated whole cloth.
Shame on those who would spend their energies spreading fear while we're all so
vulnerable. Lets mourn for the dead and then do something for the living
LET US PRAY . . . GOD BLESS AMERICA, through Christ
our Lord Amen!
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Osama bin Laden, is suspected of running
terrorist training camps in Afghanistan, where he is believed to be based.
(AP Photo)
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War Against Terror
Pakistan to Demand Bin Laden; Bush Promises Long, Determined
Campaign
Sept. 16 Afghanistan will be told Monday to hand
over Osama bin Laden or face massive retaliatory action for harboring the prime
suspect in the terror attacks on New York and Washington.
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At
the request of the United States, a delegation of Pakistani officials plans
to deliver the ultimatum to the ruling Taliban militia at a meeting in the
Afghan city of Kandahar. The Taliban, long supported by Pakistan, has
provided a safe haven for bin Laden in recent years.
Speaking to
reporters outside the White House this afternoon, President Bush reiterated
that bin Laden is "the prime suspect" in last Tuesday's attacks, in
which hijacked planes slammed into the Pentagon and the World Trade Center,
where thousands are feared dead. Another hijacked airliner crashed in
Pennsylvania.
"There is
no question he is the prime suspect," Bush said. "No question about
that."
Bush said he
had spoken directly to Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, in an
effort to enlist his nation's support in corralling bin Laden, and described
the talk as "a very good, open conversation. There is no question he
wants to cooperate with the United States."
Still, Bush
added that multilateral cooperation would be necessary for the United States'
efforts to clamp down on terrorism to be effective: "The prime suspect's
organization is in a lot of countries, so this will be a long campaign, a
determined campaign
they have roused a mighty giant."
Bush also
repeated what has become a familiar pledge of his during the last week,
saying the United States "will rid the world of the evildoers." And
the president urged his fellow citizens to return to their normal routine on
Monday: "Tomorrow the good people of America go back to their shops,
their fields, American factories and go back to work. Our nation was
horrified but it's not going to be terrorized."
Rumsfield:
'Best Defense an Effective Offense'
The move to
pressure the Taliban came as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stressed
Washington's commitment to pursuing a prolonged, multifaceted, potentially
costly campaign against international terrorists and the countries that
support them.
"The best
defense is an effective offense," Rumsfeld told a news conference today.
"A
terrorist can do any kind of an attack, any place at anytime. It is not
physically possible to defend every place at every time," he explained
on the ABCNEWS program This Week.
Rumsfeld said
U.S. efforts to beat terrorism would take years and said the American public
should be prepared for the possibility of casualties from the use of ground
troops.
"What
this war is about is our way of life, and our way of life is worth losing
life for, and the era of antiseptic warfare, planes dropping bombs from
20,000 feet, cruise missiles flying off in the night, no one getting hurt on
the United States or the coalition side, that will not work with this enemy,
let there be no doubt," he said.
Terror
Supporters Face American Wrath
Rumsfeld said
the U.S. campaign would include political, diplomatic, economic and military
pressures on countries that support or harbor terrorists.
He said that
while terrorists may not necessarily present targets that can be readily
struck by U.S. forces with cruise missiles, countries that support or
tolerate terrorist activities do.
"These
people, these terrorists
cannot function except with the tolerance of other
countries, real countries, real states, that do have capitals and armies and
navies, and do have high-value targets," Rumsfeld said. He added these
countries "have to be dealt with as well."
Vice President
Dick Cheney issued a similar warning in even stronger language today on NBC's
Meet the Press.
"The
government of Afghanistan has to understand that we believe they have,
indeed, been harboring a man who committed and whose organization committed
this most egregious act," he said.
"They
have to understand, and others like them around the world have to understand,
that if you provided sanctuary to terrorists, you face the full wrath of the
United States of America."
Pakistan
a Key Participant
Pakistan has
closed its border with Afghanistan and cut off the supply of fuel to its
neighbor, in accordance with U.S. requests. Pakistan is also sharing its
intelligence on bin Laden with the United States, sources told ABCNEWS.
Secretary of
State Colin Powell is also believed to have asked for U.S. military access to
Pakistani airspace. U.S. officials may have also asked to station troops in
Pakistan for attacks on Afghanistan, which would be a tough sell with the
Pakistani public, many of whom support the Taliban and have hard feelings
toward the United States.
In a thinly
veiled warning to Pakistan, the Taliban's reclusive "supreme leader,"
the mysterious one-eyed Mullah Mohammed Omar, said Afghans were prepared for
war, and would fight any nation aiding a U.S. attack on their nation.
Bin Laden, in
a statement broadcast by Qatar's Al-Jazeera satellite channel, denied any
involvement.
"I stress
that I have not carried out this act, which appears to have been carried out
by individuals with their own motivation," said the statement.
In it, bin
Laden said he was accustomed to the United States accusing him every time
"its many enemies strike at it."
Possible
Clue to Attacks
In the United
States, ABCNEWS has learned an alleged member of bin Laden's organization al
Qaeda was detained last month on immigration charges. He is being held as a
material witness.
Authorities
were alerted when Habib Zacarias Moussaoui, 33, showed up at a Minnesota
flight school last month offering cash for lessons on a Boeing 747 flight
simulator.
He reportedly
was uninterested in learning takeoffs and landings only in how to fly the
plane in a horizontal position, a desire that rang warning bells at the
flight school, which then alerted authorities.
After the tip
from the flight school, Moussaoui was taken into custody and it was learned
that he had taken flight lessons earlier this year at a school in Norman,
Okla. He was picked up on Aug. 17, about three weeks before Tuesday's
attacks.
In addition,
two men detained in Fort Worth, Texas, have been flown to New York for
questioning.
Law
enforcement officials say as many as 25 people picked up on immigration
violations will be questioned in connection with the attacks. Most are
believed to be on a list of more than 100 people the FBI wants to interview,
and officials said some have been cooperating.
The FBI made
its first arrest on Friday. The suspect, whose identity was not made public,
was being held as a material witness in New York after being detained at John
F. Kennedy International Airport a day earlier, sources told ABCNEWS.
Amid tightened
security, hundreds of U.S. commercial flights were back in the air today,
after a three-day shutdown of U.S. airports following the attacks. Major U.S.
airlines have been hard hit by the shutdown, with the fifth largest carrier,
Continental Airlines, announcing Saturday it was laying off 12,000 staff and
may have to file for bankruptcy protection.
At
Least One Hijacker Was on Watch List
Also, ABCNEWS
has confirmed that the CIA, prior to the attack, had given the FBI and the
Immigration and Naturalization Service the names of one of the hijackers and
that his name was placed on the INS watch list, as reported in Newsweek.
Khalid
Al-Midhar, according to the CIA information, met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
with a senior aide to bin Laden and a principal suspect in the attack on the USS
Cole in Yemen.
Al-Midhar, a Yemeni
national, had already entered the United States when his name was placed on
the list on Aug. 24.
But it is
Moussaoui's case that is drawing special interest this weekend, and a
material witness warrant was issued for him in New York late Saturday.
"The idea
of somebody showing up at a professional flight school and saying, 'I just
want to learn how to fly the plane horizontally' is absurd in the
extreme," said ABCNEWS aviation analyst John Nance. "Nobody would
put him in the seat."
Bush:
'The Conflict Will Not Be Easy'
Rumsfeld today
said U.S. fighter jets were constantly patrolling the skies across America,
and that aircraft on the ground were ready to take flight in short order if
needed.
Cheney said
today on Meet the Press that immediately after the attacks last
Tuesday, Bush ordered U.S. military pilots to shoot down hijacked commercial
airliners over Washington if they disobeyed directions to change course.
"The
president made the decision
that if the plane would not divert, if they
wouldn't pay any attention to instructions to move away from the city, as a
last resort, our pilots were authorized to take them out," he said.
U.S. officials
have declined to discuss whether that policy remains in effect.
On Saturday,
President Bush vowed to hunt down known terrorists in a long, brutal battle
against terrorism. He warned the American people about the potential
sacrifices involved.
"You will
be asked for your patience, for the conflict will not be short," Bush
said at a meeting with his top national security advisers at the Camp David
presidential retreat. "You will be asked for resolve, because the
conflict will not be easy.
"We will
not only deal with those who dare attack America, we will deal with those who
harbor them and feed them and house them," Bush said.
The president
declined to specify what steps the administration might take, but Pentagon
sources told ABCNEWS it is considering a wide range of military options, from
bombing runs to ground troops. Both houses of Congress have voted to
authorize Bush to use "all necessary and appropriate force" against
those responsible for the attacks.
Bush activated
35,000 reservists on Saturday as part of Operation Noble Eagle. The
operation, however, is a domestic one. Noble Eagle reservists will support
the rescue and firefighting efforts in New York and Washington.
Fading
Hopes in New York
In New York,
where the 24-hour search-and-rescue operation at the site of the World Trade
Center continues, more than 5,000 people have been reported missing.
According to New York police, 180 are confirmed dead, 115 of which have been
identified. Twenty-four firefighters were among those dead.
No one has
been pulled out of the rubble alive in days.
At the
Pentagon crash site, 188 people are unaccounted for. So far, 83 sets of
remains have been removed from the site.
In
Pennsylvania, all 45 people aboard United Flight 93 were killed when the
hijacked aircraft crashed about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
At religious
services around the United States, and the world, today, worshippers
remembered and prayed for the persons missing and killed in the attacks.
Pope John Paul
II said he was "heartbroken" and called for the Virgin Mary to
bring comfort and hope to the victims' families, according to an Associated
Press report.
A local choir
near Rome sang "Blowin' in the Wind," and someone waved an American
flag.
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Hijacking Suspects
Aboard American Airlines Flight 77, which took off from Washington
Dulles Airport for Los Angeles and crashed into the Pentagon.
1.
Alhamzi, Nawaq Passenger No. 12
2.
Al-Midhar, Khalid Passenger No. 20, Seat 12B
3.
Alhamzi, Salem Passenger No. 13, Seat 5F
4.
Moqed, Majed Passenger No. 19, Seat 12A
- Hanjour,
Hani
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Aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which departed Newark, N.J., for
San Francisco and crashed outside of Shanksville, Pa.:
1.
Alghamdi, Saeed Passenger No. 2
2.
Alhaznawi, Ahmed Passenger No. 3
3.
Alnami, Ahmed Passenger No. 4
- Jarrahi,
Ziad Passenger No. 26
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Aboard American Airlines Flight 11, which crashed into the North
Tower of the World Trade Center after taking off from Boston's Logan
International Airport en route for Los Angeles:
1.
Alshehri, Wail Passenger No. 1, Seat 2A
2.
Alshehri, Waleed Passenger No. 2, Seat 2B
3.
Alomari, Abdulaziz Passenger No. 14, Seat 8G
4.
Al Suqami, Satam Passenger No. 20, Seat 10B
- Atta,
Mohamed Seat 8D
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Aboard United Airlines Flight 175, which left Boston for Los
Angeles but crashed into the South Tower of the Word Trade Center:
1.
Alghamdi, Ahmed Passenger No. 2
2.
Alghamdi, Hamza Passenger No. 3
3.
Al-Shehhi, Marwan Passenger No. 4
4.
Alshehri, Mohald Passenger No. 5
5.
Ahmed, Fayez Passenger No.
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Thursday, September 13, 2001
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Nigerian death toll
climbs to 500
NIGERIA: Armed mobs went on the rampage in two Nigerian cities in
clashes yesterday between Christians and Muslims and a newspaper reported at
least 500 people had died in five days of violence.
Clashes which erupted last Friday in the central city of Jos between gangs
of Christian and Muslim youths flared again yesterday after a day of calm,
health workers and residents said.
"Renewed fighting broke out this morning in the Nassarawa
district" of Jos, the acting secretary-general of the Nigerian Red Cross,
Mr Abiodun Orebiyi, said. Dead and wounded people had been taken to hospitals
suffering from machete and gunshot wounds, he said, declining to give firm
figures.
A Nigerian newspaper, the state-run Daily Times, reported yesterday that
more than 500 victims of the violence in Jos had been given a mass burial after
dark on Monday.
The bodies were taken to the Zaria Road cemetery in three trucks by
heavily-armed soldiers and buried under supervision by government officials.
The area was cordoned off to prevent news of the toll emerging and sparking
reprisals, the paper said.
Officials yesterday declined to comment on the toll - the highest yet
advanced for the violence - although the Red Cross confirmed that a "very
large" mass burial had taken place.
Meanwhile, the new fighting in Jos continued yesterday. "It is getting
bad now in Jos. The Muslims have regrouped and they are fighting," said a
Christian resident who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"More houses are getting burned. More people are getting killed,"
said the man who would give his name only as Oliver.
"Things are getting tough. The tension is very high. Soldiers are
patrolling and firing in the air to bring the situation under control," a
police official said.
At the same time, violence also erupted in the northern city of Kano where
hundreds of Muslim youths attacked two churches overnight and set ablaze the
house of a Christian man.
The Holy Trinity Catholic Church and the Overcomers Sanctuary Pentecostal
Church in the Shagari Quarters district of Kano were both attacked overnight,
the church leaders reported.
A Catholic catechist, Mr Casmir Ogunma, said the church had been razed and
the priest's residence set ablaze by youths angered by the events in Jos.
Police had cordoned off the area around the church and would not allow
reporters to visit.
Pastor Seyi Oluwasola of the Overcomers Sanctuary said a mob of Muslim
youths had attacked his church, destroyed instruments and religious books.
"If it were not for the intervention of the police the situation would
have been worse," he said.
Mr James Enoch, a Christian, said he was leaving the city. "I can't
live here any more. These youths are dangerous. They promised to come back and
said when they come back nobody will be spared," he said.
- (AFP)
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Dateline: 14/09/2001 02:35:05
= THISDAY NEWS
The US Tragedy... Day Three
bin
Laden Dares Bush
· 'Kill me and many more Osamas would fight'
· German bizman puts $10m on his head
By
Chidi 'Uzor with agency reports
Osama
bin Laden, the main suspect of Tuesday's attack on major US targets, speaking
from his base in Afghanistan said that even if the US succeeds in eliminating
him, many more "Osamas" would continue whenever he stopped.
"The United States would get nothing out of eliminating one Osama",
a Pakistani newspaper quoted him as saying, " as there were several
Osamas".
His statement effectively called the bluff of US President George Bush to
bring to justice the perpetrators of the Tuesday attacks and the countries
that harbour them.
Bin Laden's statement may be a response to the fact that he is the prime
suspect in US intelligence and media circles for pulling off the Tuesday
attacks.
Yesterday, Secretary of state Colin Powell the first US government official
to officially identify bin Laden as the prime suspect in the attacks on the
World Trade Center and the Pentagon, said he would press the President of
Pakistan for information on the terrorist's operations.
At a news conference, Powell became the first senior Bush Administration
official to say for the record that bin Laden is suspected of engineering the
attacks. Saying the administration had not yet publicly identified the
organisation it believed responsible, Powell added: "when you look at the
list of candidates, one resides in the region."
Asked whether he was referring to bin Laden, Powell replied: "yes"
As US hands points towards bin Laden, Germany's most flamboyant internet
multi-millionaire Kim Schmitz yesterday offered $10 million to any one who
would provide information leading to his arrest.
This is as reports show that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
ignored warnings of an impending attack on the US made available by French
Intelligence. The FBI arrested an Islamic militant in Boston last month and
received French intelligence reports linking him to bin Laden but apparently
did not act on them, a French radio station said yesterday.
Bin Laden has consistently denied involvement in the attacks on the United
States, but says he fully supports such "daring acts".
He has repeatedly denounced the United States for sending troops to Arab
countries and for its support of Israel.
In a statement apparently sent from somewhere in Afghanistan and published by
a Pakistani newspaper, the Saudi exile and mastermind of notable terrorist
activities on US targets was quoted as saying that even if he was eliminated,
such attacks were not going to stop.
He praised what he called the courage of the suicide attackers, and thanking
God, described it as a "noble cause."
On Wednesday bin Laden was quoted as saying "I support the attacks
because they constitute a reaction of the oppressed people against the
atrocities of the cruel "
"The United States would get nothing out of eliminating one Osama",
the paper quoted him as saying, " as there were several Osamas".
He said dozens of known fighters and other experts were with him and were
willing to give their lives for what he described as a "noble
cause".
Another source, the Abu Dhabi television quotes an aid to bin Laden as saying
that the Saudi while maintaining he had nothing to do with the attacks,
however said they were ``punishment from Allah.'' `I have no information
about the attackers or their aims and I don't have any links with them,'' the
aide quoted bin Laden as saying.
Presently, the reclusive leader of Afghanistan's ruling Taleban, Mullah
Mohammad Omar, has publicly protested bin Laden's innocence. In his first
public comment on Tuesday's terror attacks on the United States, Mullah Omar
said bin Laden could not be held responsible. His statement - read out on the
Taleban's Radio Sharia - came as the Afghan capital Kabul braced itself for a
possible retaliatory strike by the United States.
In the statement, monitored by the AFP news agency, Mullah Omar said bin
Laden could not have ordered the attack because he has no pilots under his
command.
"The incidents which took place in America are testimony to Osama Bin
Laden's innocence because where are Osama's pilots and where were they
trained?" he was quoted as saying.
Reports say that Afghan's capital, Kabul residents are already bracing up for
the eventual attack from the US. The residents said they had seen people
digging trenches on the outskirts of the city and that other fortifications
were also being made. With television banned, Kabul residents could be seen
with small transistor radios pressed to their ears listening to foreign
broadcasts for news of the disaster.
The capital has already come under fire this week, after anti-Taliban forces
used helicopter gunships to raid the city's airport in retaliation for an
assassination attempt -- in which bin Laden was also implicated -- on its
military commander. Despite growing fears, the Afghan capital remained
largely calm on yesterday with markets and bazaars bustling as normal. But
residents said they were frightened and scared, and most saw retaliation as a
matter of course.
One resident was pragmatic about any impending danger. ``I don't care about
US attacks,'' said government employee Shakir Ullah. ``I lost half my life in
the noise of artillery, helicopters and fighting.''
With the specter of military strikes looming, diplomats from Australia,
Germany and the United States -- in Kabul with a number of relatives of eight
Christian aid workers on trial for promoting Christianity -- left for
Pakistan. ``We did not sense any difference than any other day,'' U.S.
diplomat David Donahue said on arrival. ``There was nothing going on in
Kabul. It was quiet when we left.''.
Neighboring Pakistan -- one of only three countries to recognize the Taliban
-- offered ``full cooperation'' to Washington as it attempts to track down
the perpetrators.
Significantly, Pakistan's then government refused the U.S. permission to
overfly its airspace in 1998 as Washington sought revenge for deadly bomb
attacks on its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania for which bin Laden was also
blamed.
While it was not immediately clear how many Arab nationals live in
Afghanistan, residents said almost all had left central Kabul. Afghan-Arabs
-- a term encompassing virtually all non-Afghan Muslim militants regardless
of their origin -- were also reported to have evacuated their bases elsewhere
in the country. Muslim militants from the Middle East, Philippines, Central
Asia and China have long used Afghanistan as a training base. The U.S. has
previously described the country as a ``school for terrorism.''
With Washington vowing a ``hammer of vengeance'' to those responsible for the
attacks and any country which aided them, the Taliban have been swift to deny
responsibility.
The United Nations also withdrew its last remaining international staff from
Kabul on Thursday, with many in tears as they bade farewell to their local
colleagues. But the International Committee of the Red Cross, which operates
key health projects, said most of its foreign staff would remain.
Experts said that besides bin Laden -- who honed his guerrilla skills against
Soviet troops in the 1980s commanding Arab fighters funded by the U.S.
Central Intelligence Agency few have the cash or expertise to mount such
attacks.
US officials have described the Saudi-born dissident as their chief suspect
in off-the record briefings, saying they have intercepted messages between
his people talking about the attacks.
The Taleban ambassador to neighbouring Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef, said,
when asked about bin Laden's possible extradition, that the first step would
be to discuss any US evidence.
On the warning to the FBI, Europe 1 radio reported that U.S. police arrested
a man with dual French and Algerian nationality who had several passports,
technical information on Boeing aircraft and flight manuals. The man had been
taking flying lessons, it added.
Asked for information by the FBI, French security services provided a dossier
clearly identifying him as an Islamic militant working with bin Laden. ``He
has a pedigree as long as your arm, an investigator said,'' the radio
reported.
``He belongs to the Pakistani-Afghan network that trains Osama bin Laden's
soldiers.'' Two of the four commercial airliners hijacked in the suicide
operation took off from Boston. Many Algerian militants fought against Soviet
troops in Afghanistan in the 1980s and have since used their military
background for guerrilla attacks in Algeria, France and other countries,
intelligence sources say.
It said the man, who is in jail but has refused to cooperate with
investigators, was a ``soldier without borders'' who had made several trips
to potential hotspots around the world in recent months. ``He has the profile
of someone who could prepare or lead terrorist operations,'' it said.
``This information was transmitted by French security services to the FBI but
apparently got lost in the enormous American police machinery,'' it added.
``The inquiry that might have been able to avoid everything was not started.
There was no special alert transmitted to airport authorities in the U.S.,''
it concluded.
Schmitz, the ex-hacker portrayed in the tabloid press with fast cars and scantily
clad women, posted a ``Most Wanted'' bulletin on his personal Web site.
``Spread the word, stop terror,'' Schmitz wrote in an e-mail received by
Reuters. The message contained a link to his Web site, which offers up to $10
million for ``information leading directly to the apprehension or
conviction'' of bin Laden.
Schmitz, who is reported to be worth about $200 million, most recently
grabbed the headlines with a surprise offer to bail out ailing web retail
service earlier this year. Schmitz was convicted of computer hacking in 1998
and since has made a fortune providing computer security consulting and, more
recently, venture capital investment.
His Web site also features photographs of Schmitz racing cars, shooting an
assault rifle and flying around the world in his private jet for lavish
vacations with his model girlfriend and other friends. The State Department
offered a $5 million reward for bin Laden in 1998, when he was indicted in
connection with bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa.
Meanwhile, a man who had been identified by federal authorities as a possible
hijacker involved in Tuesday's terrorist attacks is alive and cooperating
with the FBI, sources said yesterday.
Adnan Bukhari, who had attended pilot training school in Vero Beach Florida,
was talking to FBI agents, sources said. A furniture salesman said he had
seen Bukhari after the terrorist crashes, and he contacted authorities.
Bukhari's brother, Ameer Bukhari, died in a small plane crash in Florida last
year, according to a lawyer for the family.
Federal sources had initially identified the brothers as possible hijackers
who had boarded one of the planes that originated in Boston. Their names had
been tied to a car founded at Logan International Airport in Boston. But
Bukhari's attorney said it appeared their identifications were stolen and
said Bukhari had no role in the hijackings.
The revelation came as U.S. agents continued to zero in on suspected pilots
of the four hijacked jetliners. Two crashed into and destroyed the two World
Trade Center towers, a third crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth crashed
in rural Pennsylvania.
The FBI is working on the assumption that there were between 12 and 24
hijackers directly involved in the attacks, and that there may have been as many
as 50 people involved in the planning and execution of the attacks.
Sources also said all the hijackers may not have known one another, to
prevent them from giving away information if they were captured and
interrogated.
Law enforcement sources said the hijackers may have gone into action,
performing pre-assigned roles, on receiving a signal.
Plane tickets for seven people suspected of being the hijackers were
purchased with one credit card, information federal investigators deem
extremely critical evidence, sources told CNN.
The credit card apparently belonged to a material witness picked up in
Boston, not one of the hijackers.
Two of the hijackers apparently came to the United States from Nova Scotia,
Canada, crossing the border via a ferry to Bar Harbor, Maine, sources said.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Interpol are assisting U.S. law
enforcement in retracing their steps in Canada.
Authorities believe three to five hijackers were on board each of the four
planes that crashed.
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THISDAY -
Dateline: 14/09/2001 02:25:58
The Terrorism in
America
Three
days ago, the United States (US) woke up to the most unusual. Two of its
major cities, New York and Washington DC, were left in ruins from serial
aerial attacks.
Two suicide planes first crashed into two of the world's tallest buildings
called the World Trade Centre Twin Towers. Then, almost simultaneously, Washington
DC, the country's capital came under similar attacks. There was an explosion
at the State Department, and the Pentagon, the country's Defence
Headquarters, went up in flames.
The number of people who lost their lives in the attacks have not been confirmed.
But it is believed that several thousands of people must have been cut down
by the serial attacks. They gory incidents have left Americans shell-shocked.
Indeed, the entire world is shaken to the roots by the attacks suspected to
have been master-minded by terrorists. So far, no group has claimed
responsibility for the attacks.
However, speculations are rife that the suicidal attacks may have originated
from real or imagined enemies of the US in the Middle East, or elsewhere in
the world.
But it is reassuring that some elements in the Middle East who, ordinarily,
would be thought to be in the mood to gloat over the dastardly act have
dissociated themselves from the bombings and have, instead, sent their
condolences to the American authorities.
We join the rest of the world in commiserating with Americans in this moment
of sorrow. Terrorism is a heinous crime which the world should stand up
against. It is anti-people and goes against the grain of civilised conduct.
It is simply inhuman. The perpetrators of the act should therefore be brought
to book.
That is why we identify with the sentiments expressed by George Bush, the
American President, that the United States will hunt down those responsible
for the acts of terror.
We, however, have our reservations about Bush's reference to punishment for
those responsible. That sentiment may be difficult to suppress. But this is
hardly the time to contemplate or waste emotions on vengeance.
What is of utmost necessity at the moment is for the authorities in the US to
work assiduously towards unearthing the culprits of the terrorist acts.
It is almost unimaginable that the US which has one of the most sophisticated
of intelligence agencies could be taken by surprise. The incident is
therefore a challenge to the intelligence ingenuity of not only the Central
Intelligence Agency but also the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Since US has the wherewithal to bring to light both the masterminds and
perpetrators of the act, we expect that the whole truth about the attacks
will soon become public knowledge. To do this successfully, Americans must
not indulge in a wild goose chase.
Having known who was responsible, it will then behove the authorities in US
to inquire into the motive behind the terrorist acts. Since terrorism is
beginning to assume the status of an octopus all over the world, the US
should be interested in knowing why people should be aggrieved to the point
of engaging in wilful murder and suicide. This is imperative because it is
only when issues that give rise to terrorism are addressed that the world can
begin to dream of peaceful co-existence.
The US as the most powerful country in the world, and which has, on its own,
assumed the status of the world's police has a major role to play in this regard.
It should see this assignment as a calling especially in the light of the
fact that it is the target of the latest and most devastating terrorist
assault on humanity. The overall aim is to stem the tide of hate and
destruction. That is why we denounce the pockets of jubilations that have
taken place in parts of the world over the incident. We find such indulgences
reprehensible. In a globalised world such as the one we live in, people
should be seen to be preaching and promoting peace instead of hate and
rancour. It is even worse when children are indoctrinated or brought up to
believe that the man next door is an enemy. The involvement of children in
the misplaced jubilation is therefore unfortunate. It stands condemned.
The loss and pain of the US in this matter are not limited to its shores.
With its entire airspace shut; with flights being diverted to other countries
of the world; and with a lot of airplanes grounded as a result of the
incident, the economy of the US and, by extension, that of the global
community, will be adversely affected. The the absence of trading activities
at the New York Stock Exchange and the entire paralysis that the American
financial districts have suffered are bound to be economically disastrous for
the whole world. They could lead to recession.
We do not need such eerie atmospheres any longer in a globalised world. It is
high time the entire humanity began to see itself as one big family whose
interdependence should be taken for granted.
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GUARDIAN ONLINE
= Friday, September 14, 2001
Nigerians still grieve over attacks on U.S
By Abiodun Fagbemi (Ilorin) Prisca Egede, Evelyn Akala (Lagos) and Psaro
Yornamue (Owerri)
THOUGH America is thousands of
miles away, reverberating effects of the calamity unleashed on United States by
faceless terror, are being felt in the country as Nigerians continue to grieve
over the attacks yesterday.
In Ilorin, Kwara State Governor, Mohammed Lawal, said the attacks were
horrifying episode that should attract universal condemnation.
According to him, the attack "is saddening and frightening. We were
once taken to the World Trade Centre Twin Towers in New York, for a look.
Behold, they were architectural designs to marvel at."
"If the destruction that befell the once beautiful structure was man
made, I think, world leaders should jointly rise and condemn it. Only God knows
what will end the disaster, I mean no mortal can be too specific on the
identities of the victims. Nigerians, Arabians or even a Kwaran, could be
victims of the mass destructions of lives and property," he said.
The governor, while counting the gains of his third industrial foreign trips
said that the recent trip would facilitate the building of a petroleum refinery
and an independent power project in the state.
According to him, an undisclosed American electricity company would next
month commence works on the power project while works on the proposed refinery
would start in December this year.
Besides, another American firm under a contractual agreement with the state
government, volunteered to build a befitting terminal for the recently
restructured Ilorin Airport. The airport was built as an alternate airport to
Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Also condemning the attack yesterday, members of the Lagos State House of
Assembly, described it as wicked, saying no amount of provocation should have
warranted it.
In its reaction, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has described the
incident as "cruel, callous and barbaric."
The labour body said perpetrators of the dastard acts and those harbouring
them should be death with.
In a statement yesterday by its President, Adams Oshiomhole, the NLC said: "The
whole world must come out and give America the support it needs to deal with
these perpetrators of this gruesome act and those who knowingly harbour
them."
Describing terrorism as a "crime against humanity and should be
resisted by all decent people," the NLC expressed sympathy with the people
and government of America over the national tragedy, adding that "our
hearts go to the families of the victims in whose grief, bewilderment and anger
we share."
In Owerri, the Imo State capital, the residents are still mourning, even as
they are making frantic efforts to get in touch with their relations in
America, to ascertain their safety.
Many civil servants in Imo State, abandoned their duty posts on Tuesday to
witness the thriller-like horror unleashed on the United States, and thereafter
reach for telephone to hear from their relations in U.S.
But the analogue system in the state didn't help matters, forcing many to go
to Port Harcourt and Onitsha where digital telephone system had been installed.
On Wednesday, a contractor who preferred anonymity, told The Guardian
that his wife left Nigeria on Saturday for New York but he was not sure whether
she had arrived before the incident.
Investigation revealed that almost all the international call centre include
NITEL, recorded high patronage between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Also, prayers were offered in many churches in the state for the protection
of Nigerians in U.S, even, as they expressed shock over the incident.
The newsstands also witnessed large turn out of civil servants and
businessmen who wanted to update their knowledge on the development in America.
Some people however permanently turned their radio to Voice of America
(VOA) and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
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THISDAY NEWS
Dateline: 12/09/2001 01:01:37
|
|
The US Tragedy...
Jubilation
in Zamfara, Palestinians Celebrate
By
Appolonia Emeanua with Agency Reports
Reports
from Zamfara State has it that shortly after the attack on America became
public knowledge, several people in the state capital, Gusau openly began
jubiliation.
Just some 2,000 Palestinians reportedly celebrated chanting slogans in honour
of suspected terrorist Osama Bin Laden.
According to the report monitored on the British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC) yesterday, the Islamic Youth Organisation of Zamfara, an association
comprising fundamentalist Islamic groupings has said that it will embark on a
procession today (Wednesday) to demonstrate their joy over the attack.
According to the report, shortly after the news of the attack was aired,
several people took to the streets, chanting joyous songs in solidarity with
the unknown attackers. Some of them who spoke to the BBC in Gasau expressed
delight that the world's sole super power has come under attack, saying it
was paying the prize of its activities in taking sides with the Israelis
against the Palestinians who are currently under the occupation of Israel.
Many of the Islamic militants whose views were sought following the
jubilation in that state were said to have expressed their dissatisfaction
over the role the United States (US) have been playing in the middle east
conflict, saying they have remained partial over the conflict between the
Israelis and the Palestinians, choosing to favour Israel in all their
decisions.
Some of them were reported to have cited the example of the role America
played at the just-concluded United Nations (UN) Conference on Racism which
took place in Durban, South Africa, where both the US and Israel staged a
walk-out in protest of attempts to include strong and critical language they
consider offensive to Israel.
Although the walk-out did not stop the conference, it resulted in the
language of the resultant communiqu to become watered down, to the
displeasure of many countries of the Arab League, majority of which are
strong supporters of the Palestinian cause.
The report further stated that many of the Islamic militants in Zamfara
hailed yesterday's attack, saying it is now the turn of America to face the
consequences of their actions.
It will be recalled that the US has been a major player in the middle east
conflict. Over the years, it has played an intervention role bringing the
warring parties to negotiate and find solution to their common problem. But
over 50 years since the conflict began with the creation of Israel, the
situation on the ground is far from peaceful. In the past 11 months the
Palestinians, in their efforts to stop Israeli occupation of their territories
and ultimately achieve a homeland and self-determination, have began an
uprising (Intifada) in which hundreds of its people and some Israelis have
died. Up till now, the war is still raging in that region, with frequent
reports of suicide attacks and bombing claiming lives.
Besides, before the commencement of the racism conference, several Arab
nations had proposed that they would equate Zionism with racism, a plan that
was deplored by America which insisted that if Arab nations were allowed to
have their way, it would not participate in the conference.
After several weeks of wrangling over the issue and that of the demand by
Africa countries that western nations pay them reparations over their role
during the slavery years, the conference opened, with the US and Israel
sending a low-level delegation.
The Palestinians cried "Bin Laden, bomb tel Aviv!" according to an
AFP correspondent on the scene.
Others said the string of attacks were "divine vengeance" in return
for US policy in the Middle East.
Many celebrated Tuesday's terror attacks in the United States, chanting ``God
is Great'' and distributing candy to passers-by, even as their leader, Yasser
Arafat, said he was horrified.
The U.S. government has become increasingly unpopular in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip in the past year of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, with many
Palestinians accusing Washington of siding with Israel.
In the West Bank town of Nablus, about 3,000 people poured into the street
shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and
government targets in Washington.
Demonstrators distributed candy in a traditional gesture of celebration.
Several Palestinian gunmen shot in the air, while other marchers carried
Palestinian flags. Nawal Abdel Fatah, 48, wearing a long, black dress, threw
sweets in the air, saying she was happy because ``America is the head of the
snake, America always stands by Israel in its war against us.''
Her daughter Maysoon, 22, said she hoped the next attack would be launched
against Tel Aviv.
In traditionally Arab east Jerusalem, there was a smaller gathering of about
two dozen people, many of them young children led in chants by adults. Some
drivers passing the scene honked their horns and flashed victory signs from
their windows.
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From
GUARDIAN Online Thursday, September 13,
2001
Obasanjo, reps condemn
attacks
By Martins Oloja, Oghogho Obayuwana, Adamu Abuh (Abuja), Bode Ayodele,
Francis Obinor, Yinka Aderibigbe (Lagos) and Coffie Charles Gyamfi (Abeokuta) AS grief-stricken Americans
come to terms with the unfolding realities of Tuesday's terrorist attack on
their country, Nigeria yesterday commiserated with the country and canvassed
punishment for its perpetrators. And
in Lagos, foreign embassies, including that of America, flew their national
flags at half mast yesterday, as they grieved over a tragedy of monumental
proportion, which befell the American people, nay the world. In
a condolence message to President George Bush, President Olusegun Obasanjo
expressed sympathy with the U.S, on behalf of the government and people of
Nigeria over the what he called the "sadistic terrorist attack" on
the American people. He described the attack as
"callous and dastardly" adding that it must be condemned by all
peace-loving people in the world. "The
perpetrators of this heinous crime that has resulted in huge losses of lives
and property, must not go unpunished." He
added: "Terrorism and terrorists must never be given comfort. The spirit
of democracy must never be downcast but must be buoyed up and made
unconquerable." The President who was
visibly moody yesterday before the Federal Executive Council said that
Nigeria's prayers and sympathy "also go to the families of those who have
lost their beloved ones in the attack." Also,
the House of Representatives, has condemned the attack, describing the action
as "an act of terrorism against humanity" and called on all
governments of the world to embrace dialogue as a potent instrument for
resolving conflicts and achieving set goals. The
House, which observed a minute silence for the victims of the attack, also
resolved to communicate its "deep-felt" sympathy to the people and
government of the United States. Nduka
Irabor, (PDP-Delta), who raised the issue under matter of urgent national
importance, described the attack as "cowardly" and urged that
"the perpetrators be fished out and punished." Contributing,
Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Adamu Bulkachuwa said that the
U.S. had spent time and resources to encourage world peace, adding that acts of
terrorism should be condemned. "Terrorism
should be condemned in its totality and it should not be used as an avenue to
settle scores," he said Victor
Lar, (APP-Plateau), said that the U.S. had always stood by Nigeria in its
trying moments and that Nigeria now had an opportunity to reciprocate by
condemning the terrorist attack. Patricia
Ette, in her contribution said that if the U.S. could be attacked in spite of
its tight security network, then no country in the world could be described as
"safe." However, Mohammed Danchida,
said that the attack had shown the porosity of the U.S. security network and
could be "a retaliatory action against acts of terrorism by the U.S. in
the past." "We are living
witnesses to what the U.S. did in Sudan, Iraq, Kuwait and other Middle East
countries. The U.S. is only being paid in her own coins", he said. And
in Lagos yesterday, British Permanent Under Secretary, Sir John Kerr condemned
the attacks, which he described as cowardly. Also,
Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, called for a three day fasting and
prayer, for God to avert future calamity and for the repose of souls lost in
the attack. Fielding questions from
journalists after a courtesy visit to the governor, Kerr, accompanied by the
British High Commissioner, Mr. Philip Thomas, described the attacks as "a
display of insanity by madmen on suicide mission." According
to him, such acts was inexcusable and should be condemned in strong terms in
its totality as no amount of provocation should warrant such act. For
Tinubu, this is the time for eternal vigilance in the country, adding that no
nation should support terrorism. In
Abuja, security at the U.S embassy has been beefed up. While
briefing the press yesterday evening however, the U.S. Charge De Affairs in
Nigeria, Mr. Timothy Andrew was not definite on whether the suicide bombings
will make the Americans' much talked about missile defence system (star wars)
inevitable. "I have no reason to
think that this will facilitate the missile defence system but yesterday's
(Tuesday's) tragedy will not force the United States to retreat from its role
as world leader." An increased number of Nigerian
security personnel was observed yesterday at a police hut visible after turning
in from Aso Drive. Also, two policemen were at the second check point which the
embassy erected a few months ago, that drew the ire of then Minister of State
for Foreign Affairs, Chief Duben Onyia. Onyia had reasoned that the Embassy had
no right to effect a blockade of any Nigerian road. Andrew
confirmed the security arrangement yesterday, even as he thanked the Nigerian
government for all the support and solidarity America has received so far. On
what the U.S. would do if the terrorists are found in any country, he said
"yes such country where they are hiding needs to cooperate with our
efforts to effect justice. We are to bring the offenders to book." On
the action envisaged should the country/countries refused to cooperate, the
envoy said "I can't tell. The US government will not say much on that more
than what you know." He
said the U.S. defence policy will not be influenced by the recent attacks. "No!
Our security is already now tight... The courageous conquer fear by
transcending it. We will transcend this act of terrorism. The United States
government will not allow terrorists to dictate our actions. We never have. We
never will." Confirming that the embassy
has passed President Obasanjo's message of condolence, sympathy and prayers to
the White House, he disclosed also that a condolence delegation from the House
of Representatives led by Deputy Speaker Chibudom Nwuche had called; while the
Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Saminu Turaki phoned in to express sympathy. At
the embassies of the United States, Great Britain and Russia, visited yesterday
by The Guardian, the staffers were still in mourning mood. But
while the flag of Lebanon, a Middle-east country, was seen at full mast, that
of Italy was at half mast, indicating that they were still grieving over the
attack. Only skeletal services were
rendered yesterday at most of the embassies. At
the United States embassy at 1.50 p.m, a stern looking security officer said
that besides visa applicants on appointment and drop box applicants, other
enquires have been suspended. "The
situation has been like this since yesterday (Tuesday); it is due to the
incident in the United States", the officer said. At
the British High commission, a few metres away, a similar situation ruled even
as the press attache of the commission could not explain why activities were at
low ebb, saying, the official who could give the explanation was not around. "The
question you have asked are very valid but since I don't have a directive to
respond, I cannot do so." Meanwhile,
a source close to the embassy, informed that a meeting of United States
citizens in the country, would soon be held, to allay their fears. "Americans
in this country meet regularly. It is not unlikely that a special meeting will
be summoned to address this issues", said the source. Only
a few people, mostly Nigerians were seen hanging around the embassies
yesterday. In his reaction Dr. Daniel
Onoweh, a research fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs,
Victoria Island, condemned the act and argued that the country's surveillance
agencies should not solely be blamed for the failure to thwart it. But
the Deputy Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Dr. Lai Osho, yesterday called
for restraints on the part of America, noting that the bombing of Pentagon is
an issue to ponder over. He advised against
retaliation by America, because he believes retaliation would heightened
tension in the world. Speaking in the same vein,
and Abeokuta based legal practitioner Mr. Tunji Onabawo had said America must
be cautious in its reaction to the attack, which he said had demystified the
American myth. "The way the operation
was carried out give the impression that those involved had lived in America
for a very long time, planning towards it", he said Expressing
deep shock over the attack in a letter of condolence to the American Ambassador
to Nigeria, Mr. H.F. Howard Jeter, the African Leadership Forum (ALF) said: "It
is traumatic and disturbing that the perpetrators of this heinous crime did not
take cognisance of the threat their malevolent acts constitute to world peace. "To
us at the Africa Leadership Forum, as a beneficiary of American philanthropy
and social capital, there can be no justification for such a dastardly,
criminal act. It is, indeed, with very heavy heart that we received the
shocking news. "If this is truly a
terrorist attack as currently being speculated, it is only fair, right and
proper that the perpetrators must be brought to justice. That in itself should
be seen as a means of increasing global security and promotion of world peace. "As
a civil society organisation concerned with global peace, development and
leadership, we condemn unequivocally, and in entirely, the masterminding and
execution of these acts," remarked the forum, whose founding chairman is
President Obasanjo. In the letter signed by its
Executive Director, Mr. Ayodele Aderinwale, the Forum said: "What happened
in the United States yesterday, was an unprecedented aggression. It calls for
greater co-operation amongst nations of the world; it deepens our concern about
the ever-increasing challenge of global security, especially in the face of
this new plague of the 21st century.
"We call on
all nations of the world and men of goodwill world-wide to express solidarity
with the government of the United States of America and ensure that those who
make life miserable for others are not allowed to have the last laugh,"
concluded the Forum.
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Wednesday, 12 September, 2001, 13:12 GMT 14:12 UK
Africa's
sorrow over US terror attacks
The morning-after wreckage at the World Trade Center
The leaders of a number of African nations have expressed
their sympathy with the victims of the US attacks but some militant Muslim
groups have been celebrating.
In
Kenyan where the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi left more than 200
dead, the news has been greeted with shock.
Maybe
the Americans will now get a taste of what we went through
|
Consolata
Wanjiru Mugo, Kenya bomb survivor
|
Kenya's
President Daniel arap Moi condemned what he called "this heinous and evil
apparently co-ordinated act of terrorism"
He
said that terrorism can never be the basis for the solution of any conflict.
A
correspondent for the BBC in Kenya, Kariuku Mureithi says security forces have
been placed on high alert.
Heavily
armed
He
says heavily armed paramilitary troops have been posted to oil refineries,
power plants and defence headquarters and police stations.
Service
at the normally bustling Jomo Kenyetta International Airport, he says,
"has been paralysed. Most flights have been indefinitely suspended".
Our
correspondent says as the news of the devastation unfolded, Kenyans, reminded
of the horror they suffered three years ago, scrambled around radio sets and
televisions for the latest news.
But
some Kenyans who feel that the US should pay compensation for the injuries they
suffered will closely watch how US victims are treated.
'Innocent
people'
"Maybe
the Americans will now get a taste of what we went through," said
Consolata Wanjiru Mugo, who was injured in the Kenyan blast.
"They
will feel what it was like as innocent people to be attacked in this way",
she added.
Douglas
Sidiallo, who lost his sight in the Nairobi attack, told BBC News Online that
the US victims should stick together in order to get through these troubled
times.
"Only
through togetherness, as a strong, united family can they move on," he
said.
In
Tanzania, where 12 people died following an attack on the US embassy just
minutes after the Nairobi attack, security has been stepped up.
Foreign
Minister Jakaya Kikwete said: "Having suffered terrorist attacks
ourselves, we feel and understand what the Americans must be
experiencing".
Emergency
aid
The
President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak has sent his condolences to the American
people calling the attacks horrific and unimaginable.
An
Egyptian man, Sheikh Omar Abdul-Rahman, has been convicted in a US court of
involvement in the East African attacks.
It
is believed that he is close to the Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden who some
suspect of orchestrating the attacks both in Africa and US. He has denied the
claims.
The
leader of Libya, Colonel Moamer Gaddafi said his country was ready to send aid
to the American people.
In
Sudan, once a target for a US missile attack, the Islamist government offered
its condolences.
But
anti American sentiments run high in Sudan. The BBC's Alfred Taban in Khartoum
says some watching the news on television shouted, "Allahu akbar"
(God is great), in sympathy with the attackers.
Celebrating
Governments
in Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone and The Gambia have also expressed their
condolences.
We
feel and understand what the Americans must be experiencing
|
Tanzania
Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete
|
However
some Muslim groups in northern Nigeria have been celebrating.
The
BBC's Ibrahim Dosara in Zamfara says that groups opposed to the US policy in
the Middle East say it is now paying the consequences.
Our
Zamfara correspondent says the Islamic Youth Organisation will be holding a
march on Wednesday to celebrate the attacks.
Other
Africans are concerned about friends and family who are now living in the US.
-----------------+++++++++++++++++----------------------
Subject:
Prayers + Flags Across America
To show the world that we Americans stick together,
September 13, 14, 15, & 16, 2001 began as "Prayers + Flags Across
America" program.
Let's all display our love and support for our country.
All Americans prayed and displayed the American flag
in their churches, offices, homes or, and
cars.
The Spirit: Let's keep the meaning of UNITED in "United States"
THE
LAND OF THE FREE & THE HOME OF THE BRAVE!!!
ONE
NATION UNDER GOD
IN
GOD WE TRUST.
8888888888888888888 PATRICK NSIONU ONLINE 2001 88888888888888888888