President Bush’s Statement And Reaction Around The World
In light of yesterday’s events and the evolving search for lives and actual evidence we provide a sampling of the reaction around the world – first with the statement made by U.S. President Bush.
Statement by the President in His Address to the Nation
8:30 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT:
Good evening. Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes, or in their offices; secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers; moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.
The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed; our country is strong.
A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.
America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.
Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America -- with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.
Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D.C. to help with local rescue efforts.
Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks.
The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight, and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business, as well.
The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.
I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance.
America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me."
This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.
Thank you. Good night, and God bless America.
END 8:35 P.M. EDT
Islamic Republic News Agency: Taliban condemn attacks in United States
Islamabad, Sept 11, IRNA - Afghanistan ruling Taliban Tuesday
strongly condemned attacks in New York and Washington and called for
investigations into the incidents.
"We strongly condemn the attacks and condemn those who have
carried out these blasts", Taliban envoy to Pakistan Mulla Abdul Salam
Zaeef told a news press conference in Islamabad.
"We call for judicial inquiry into the attacks and punishment of
those who have done this", Zaeef said.
He ruled out involvement of Osama bin Laden in the attacks and
said he (Osama) is unable to carry out such well-organized attacks.
"We have controlled all activities of Osama and he can not contact
anyone", he said.
"It is highly regrettable to blame anyone for the attacks without
the completion of investigations", the Taliban envoy said.
Asked about the possibility of any American attack on Afghanistan,
he said, "We do not expect any such action. But it would be a big
mistake if Afghanistan was attacked".
"They (Americans) will be responsible for any attack on
Afghanistan", he warned.
Islamic Republic News Agency: Iran denounces massive attacks on U.S., expresses sympathy with
Tehran, Sept 11, IRNA -- Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on Tuesday
condemned the kamikaze "terrorist" attacks in the United States and
expressed his deep sorrow and sympathy with the American nation.
"On behalf of the Iranian government and the nation, I condemn the
hijacking attempts and terrorist attacks on public centers in American
cities which have killed a large number of innocent people," President
Khatami said in reaction to the worst attack on American soil since
Pearl Harbor.
Three hijacked planes slammed into the Pentagon and New
York's landmark World Trade Center on Tuesday, demolishing the two
110-story towers that symbolize U.S. financial might.
"My deep sympathy goes out to the American nation, particularly
those who have suffered from the attacks and also the families of the
victims," he said, noting, "terrorism is doomed and the international
community should stem it and take effective measures in a bid to
eradicate it."
Khatami added that the Islamic Republic is treading a road to
uproot terrorism and to this end, he noted, it will spare no efforts.
Chinese President Jiang's Message to President Bush (full text)
H. E. President George Walker Bush
White House
Washington
The United States of America
Dear Mr. President,
I am shocked to learn that some parts of New York and Washington D.C. were disastrously attacked, which caused severe casualities. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I would like to express sincere sympathy to you, and through you, to the U.S. government and people and condolences to the family members of the victims. The Chinese government consistently condemns and opposes all manner of terrorist violence.
Jiang Zemin
President of the People's Republic of China
September 11, 2001 in Beijing
Embassy Of The Republic Of The Sudan Official Statement on Terrorist Attacks
WASHINGTON, Sep 11, 2001 –
Following is a statement by the Embassy Of The Republic Of The Sudan:
Minister Of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, who is currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, emerged from a meeting with his Saudi counterpart, to denounce the vicious terrorist attacks on a number of American targets this morning. He described the attacks on World Trade Center and the Pentagon building as criminal acts of terrorism which caused a great loss of precious human lives. He offered his sincere condolences to the American government and the American people, reaffirming the Sudan Government willingness to co-operate fully with the U.S. Government and the International Community to combat all forms of terrorism and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Syrian News Agency:
An official Syrian information source has condemned the the destructive acts of sabotage which targeted innocent civilians in the united states of America and inflicted extensive destruction on properties and vital positions.,
The source expressed Syria’s sympathy with the American people and families of the victims of those attacks.
M.Malla
BBC
Africa Reacts To US Attacks
Sept. 11
Many Africans have condemned the attacks on the US but 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.
But Kenyans are being reminded of the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi and the BBC's Grey Phombeah says they have received the news with shock.
Other Africans are concerned about friends and family who are now living in the US.
Sierra Leone's Information Minister told the BBC's Focus on Africa that: "People are flabbergasted."
Crowded around
He said that people are crowded around radio sets and televisions for the latest news.
Kenya's President Daniel arap Moi said that terrorism can never be the basis for the solution of any conflict.
But some Kenyans who feel that the US should pay compensation for the injuries they suffered will watch closely how US victims are treated.
"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. It will be quite interesting to see how they treat their own people, compared to the way they have treated us."
Our Zamfara correspondent says the Islamic Youth Organisation will be holding a march on Wednesday to celebrate the attacks.
Cancelled flights
He said they feel that Muslims are being killed in the Middle East on a daily basis and now it is the turn of the US to pay.
In recent years, South Africa has also been hit by terrorist attacks and South Africa Airways has responded by immediately cancelling all flights to the US.
The militant Muslim group, People Against Gangsterism and Drugs, PAGAD, which has been accused of responsibility for some of the bombings, declined to comment on the US attacks.
Wednesday September 12 3:05 AM ET
Nations Around World Condemn Terror Attacks on U.S.
LONDON (Reuters) - Nations around the world, including U.S. foes Libya and Iran, condemned the terror attacks on the United States in which thousands of people may have died.
Saddam Hussein's Iraq raised a dissenting voice, saying the United States deserved Tuesday's attacks in New York and Washington as the fruits ``of its crimes against humanity.''
Thousands of people may have died when the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center collapsed after two hijacked airliners smashed into one of the world's tallest buildings.
In Washington, another hijacked jet plunged into the Pentagon, the heart of the U.S. military establishment.
Leaders through Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America reacted with revulsion.
Photographs of the devastation dominated front pages around the world, while millions of people sat glued to their television screens as the catastrophe unfolded. ``War on America,'' was the banner headline on more than one newspaper.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder condemned the attacks as a declaration of war on the civilized world.
``This day has changed the world. A terrible event, the scale of which we cannot yet appreciate,'' German President Johannes Rau told an audience in Helsinki.
The United States virtually closed down after the worst attack on American soil since Japan's raid on Pearl Harbor that brought the U.S. into World War Two 60 years ago.
``Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts,'' President Bush told the nation.
``Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.''
BUSH REASSURES NATION
But Bush sought to reassure the public and said the country's financial institutions remained strong and the economy was open for business -- despite fears of a global recession.
Investors across the world snapped up safe assets like gold and U.S. Treasury bills after the attacks which left Wall Street smothered in smoke and rubble.
Air travel around the world was thrown into chaos as the United States closed its airports and borders and grounded its planes. Security was stepped up around its embassies and at many sensitive buildings in major cities across the globe.
Sweden put off a summit of center-left leaders, including Schroeder and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, that should have gone ahead at the weekend in Stockholm.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, regarded as a pariah by Washington, offered condolences at the ``horrific attacks.''
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami condemned what he called the ``terrorist'' attacks on Iran's arch-foe and offered ``deep sympathy'' to the American nation.
``Terrorism is condemned and the international community should...take effective measures to eradicate it,'' the official IRNA news agency quoted Khatami as saying.
But Iraqi state television said: ``The American cowboy is reaping the fruits of his crimes against humanity.''
Egypt, Israel and European leaders from Britain to Russia broke off normal business for crisis meetings.
Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a coordinated international response to terrorism.
Putin said in a telegram to Bush that ``barbarous terrorist acts aimed against wholly innocent people cause us anger and indignation.'' ``The entire international community should unite in the struggle against terrorism,'' he said.
``This is not a battle between the United States of America and terrorism, but between the free and democratic world and terrorism,'' Blair said after chairing a crisis meeting of Britain's special security committee.
NATO HOLDS EMERGENCY MEETING
NATO ambassadors met in emergency session in Brussels.
``Our message to those who perpetrated these unspeakable crimes is...clear: you will not get away with it,'' NATO Secretary-General George Robertson said after the meeting.
Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent a message to Bush expressing sympathy.
A U.S. official pointed a finger at Saudi militant Osama bin Laden, already accused by Washington of masterminding the coordinated bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa in 1998 in which more than 200 people died.
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers quickly denied that bin Laden, whom they are sheltering, was capable of launching Tuesday's attacks. Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar condemned the attacks as terrorist acts.
Forces fighting the Taliban launched a helicopter missile strike at Kabul airport early on Wednesday, destroying two planes, a Pakistan-based Afghan news agency said. Officials in Washington denied the blasts were a retaliatory U.S. strike.
Pakistan, the main international backer of the Taliban, joined in the condemnation.
Islamabad's Ausaf newspaper, which gives wide coverage to fundamentalist religious groups, called the deaths ''regrettable'' in an editorial monitored by the BBC, but said responsibility lay with the U.S. government and the United Nations for what it said was their support of Israel ''oppression'' of Palestinians.
Saying bin Laden had denied responsibility for the attack in a message to the newspaper, Ausaf warned that U.S. retaliation against Afghanistan would only stiffen hostility to Washington.
``If the attack were launched without producing evidence, it would further fuel hatred against the United States,'' it said.
Another Pakistani newspaper, Khabrain, also said bin Laden had denied responsibility through sources close to the Taliban.
Cuban President Fidel Castro, an opponent of the United States who helped push Washington to the brink of nuclear war with the Soviet Union 40 years ago, warned of ``dangerous'' days'' ahead. He urged U.S. leaders to keep calm.
Israel, which has suffered a series of attacks during nearly a year of a Palestinian uprising, urged the world to fight Islamic guerrillas. Families of staff at its embassy in Cairo were sent home, airport sources in the Egyptian capital said.
Some Palestinians cheered but Palestinian President Yasser Arafat condemned the attacks as a ``terrible act'': ``It's unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable,'' he said.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, speaking from his residence outside New York, said the attacks had traumatized the world, but urged cool and reasoned judgement.
Pope John Paul called them an unspeakable horror which had thrust the United States into a dark and tragic moment.
Tuesday September 11 4:01 PM ET
Arafat Condemns U.S. Attacks, but Some Celebrate
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian President Yasser Arafat condemned Tuesday's aircraft attacks on U.S. cities as a ''terrible act'' and said he would help track down those responsible if asked by the Americans.
Some Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus handed out sweets and fired in the air to celebrate the attacks against Israel's key ally. A few dozen people honked car horns in Arab East Jerusalem but most West Bank towns were quiet.
``We completely condemn this serious operation. ... We were completely shocked,'' Arafat told reporters in Gaza. ``It's an unbelievable disaster. It is touching our hearts. It is very difficult to explain my feelings. God help them. God help them.''
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks in which three hijacked planes hit sites in New York and Washington. A fourth plane crashed near the U.S. city of Pittsburgh.
Some Palestinians are angered over what they see as U.S. support for Israel in its fight against Palestinians who are waging a nearly one-year-old uprising against occupation by the Jewish state of lands in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
``We are happy because America supports Israel with weapons to kill Palestinians,'' said a middle-aged Palestinian lawyer, carrying a briefcase and wearing a shirt and tie as he walked past the small, brief demonstration in East Jerusalem.
A few Palestinian boys stoned Israeli buses passing by, shattering a windshield.
RADICAL GROUPS DENY ANY CONNECTION
There were no celebrations in other West Bank towns such as Tulkarm, Bethlehem and Jenin and in the Gaza Strip, all areas where Israeli-Palestinian violence has raged.
Fathi Ayed, 37, a Palestinian store owner in Gaza, watched the news on a television in his shop.
``This is a terrible incident. Many people, innocent passengers were killed,'' he said. ``We feel sad because we know what pain is, we know what it is to lose someone we love.''
At least three radical groups which have condemned U.S. support for Israel in the Palestinian uprising denied any connection to the attacks in the United States, saying they were limiting their battle to inside Israeli-occupied territories.
Two radical Palestinian groups, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said they were not involved.
The spiritual leader of the Islamist militant group Hamas said it had no connection.
``We in Hamas, our battle is on the Palestinian land. We are not ready to move our battle out of the occupied Palestinian territories,'' said Sheikh Ahmed Yassin of Hamas, which has carried out bombings that have killed scores of Israelis.
Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo told Voice of Palestine radio: ``The Palestinian people express their utmost sympathy to the American people and to the innocent victims who perished in these sinful and criminal acts.''
Palestinian political factions said the attack contravenes ''all human principles and values regardless of the existing differences with the American administration.''
Israel and the Palestinians have been locked in fighting since last September after peace talks stalled.
Gulf Times: Radical Palestinian groups deny role in U.S. attacks
Two radical Palestinian guerrilla groups said they had nothing to do with the devastating attacks on key U.S. buildings yesterday.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) told Reuters they were not involved in attacks on the U.S. They said they were limiting their military operations against Israel to attacks inside the Israeli-occupied territories.
"Naturally the United States' position regarding our conflict with Israel is totally biased in favour of Israel, but we have nothing to do with these aircraft attacks in the U.S. because our military battle is against the Zionist enemy," Maher Al Taher, a PFLP politburo member, said.
"We, as nationalist Palestinian forces, are launching our struggle on our land against the Zionist aggression."
Taher denied a report on August 29 that his group was planning attacks against the U.S. following the killing of the PFLP leader Abu Ali Mustafa in an Israeli missile attack on his office in the West Bank.
Ali Badwan, a member of the central committee of the DFLP told Reuters his group was against any attacks on civilians.
"Our policy calls for focusing the Palestinian efforts against the Israeli occupation forces and the armed Zionist settlers," he said. "We are not concerned with any actions outside the Palestinian territories. Our legitimate struggle is directed against the Israeli enemy and the settler cliques."
Gramma Internacional: Cuba rejects acts of terrorism in the United States and offers condolences to the victims
THE Cuban government has totally rejected the acts of terrorism reported today, Tuesday, in the United States and has offered its condolences to the people and authorities of that country for loss of life.
Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque informed the press that Cuba’s historical position is to "totally condemn and reject terrorism wherever it comes from and against whoever it is perpetrated."
The Cuban minister made his statement in Havana’s José Martí International Airport a few hours after the attacks on the World Trade Center twin towers in New York, plus the Pentagon and State Department in Washington, which all occurred within minutes of one another.
"Our people have had to suffer 40 years of acts of terrorism, so we know the consequences of this type of action," emphasized Pérez Roque.
The Cuban minister of foreign affairs stated that the island has notified regional air traffic control authorities that the island is willing to offer facilities in Cuban airports for aircraft in mid-flight, due to the present situation in U.S. airspace.
"Our reaction really is one of a feeling of total rejection of this action," reiterated Pérez Roque.
Asked about those acts of terrorism being attributed to Palestinian terrorists, the foreign minister indicated that Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian National Authority, was one of the first to expressly condemn what occurred today.
Regarding a notion that Cuba was involved, he confirmed: "I do not believe it is necessary to refer to this, and I trust that such a barbaric idea would not occur to anybody."
After the news became known on the island normal television transmissions were interrupted and full and detailed information was offered on the incident, described here as "a national tragedy for the United States."
Japan Times: Koizumi sends message to Bush over terrorist attacks
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sent a message to U.S. President George W. Bush late Tuesday expressing shock over what appeared to be coordinated terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
"I am shocked to hear the news about the tragic incidents at the World Trade Center buildings and the Pentagon. I share your anger over what appears to be acts of terrorism," Koizumi said in the statement.
"Representing the Japanese government and the Japanese people, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the victims and families of the victims," he said.
Two aircraft slammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York on Tuesday morning local time. The Pentagon and several other federal buildings in Washington were also attacked.
Syrian News Agency: US Explosions internationally Condemned
Washington Sept 11 (SANA) The US was exposed Tuesday to a series of explosions;
two explosions caused by two airplanes shook the Pentagon, one near the US
State Department by a booby trapped car, two airplanes hit World Trade Center.
US President, George W. Bush stated that the explosions were caused by a
"terrorist act".
The US police sources said that the airplanes were civilian ones and were
hijacked from Boston.
US Civilian Air Administration ordered all incoming planes to the US to head
for landing in Canada.
US United Airlines and American Airlines stated that four of their planes were
lost.
These terrorist explosions were internationally condemned; Lebanese Premier,
Rafdiq Hariri held that attacks as ' in contradiction with human values,
religious and heaven principles', Jordanian Government deplored and offered
condolences, Palestinian Authority Chairman Arafat condemned them, The Islamic
Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine asserted their
opposition for anything against civilians, British Premier Tony Blair and
Foreign Minister Strew deplored the explosions and offered condolences, President
Chirac of France condemned and underlined French stance by the
Americans, President Putin of Russia deplored such ' inhuman acts' and offered
condolences, King Mohammad of Morocco condemned and offered condolences.
M.Abdo
Turkish Daily News: Ankara deplores attacks, expresses solidarity with the US
Turkey was shocked Tuesday with reports from Washington about what appeared to be a well-orchestrated massive terrorist attack. Turkish officials deplored the wave of terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania and expressed solidarity with the American people in messages of condolence to President George Bush.
In a message to Bush, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer expressed the sorrow of the Turkish nation with the reports of the unprecedented terrorist campaign against the American civilians and expressed his sympathy and solidarity with the American people.
According to the Presidential Palace, Sezer wrote in his message to Bush that he strongly deplored the unprecedented attacks and underlined that the Turkish people shared the grief of the American people.
Talking to reporters after a crisis meeting at the Prime Ministry, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stressed that he was shocked by the reports. "Whatever affects the United States, affects the world and us," Ecevit said expressing hope that the United States would overcome the situation soon and heal the wounds of the attacks.
The prime minister said he had sent a letter of condolence to Bush and expressed the solidarity of the Turkish people with the American people against terrorism.
The crisis meeting at the Prime Ministry was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Devlet Bahceli and Husamettin Ozkan, Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and National Security Council (MGK) Secretary-General Gen. Tuncay Kilic.
Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines flights to the United States were ordered back home after they were diverted by the American Federal Aviation Administration to Canada as all airports in the United States were closed.
Wednesday, September 12, 2001