Govt. presents evidence of Osama link to attacks

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, OCT. 4. The British Government today answered its critics by presenting to Parliament what it described as ``incontrovertible'' evidence linking Osama Bin Laden with the September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. The move came as the Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair embarked on yet another diplomatic journey - the second in two weeks - amid indications that support for military action against Afghanistan was waning in some countries, particularly in the Muslim world.

Soon after presenting the ``evidence'' to a special session of the Commons, Mr. Blair left for Moscow for talks with the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin. At home, the decision to share the evidence with political leaders appeared to have paid off. The leader of the Opposition, Mr. Ian Duncan Smith said after seeing the evidence he was ``convinced'' that Bin Laden stood as ``charged'', but more importantly even prominent sceptics like the Liberal Democratic Party leader, Mr. Charles Kennedy acknowledged that the proof shown to them was ``indeed persuasive''.

While Mr. Blair personally briefed Opposition leaders, a dossier of declassified intelligence on Bin Laden's role in the attacks was placed in the Parliament library. Mr. Blair told MPs that there was ``absolutely no doubt'' that Bin Laden was behind the atrocities and it had been firmly established that at least three of the 19 suicide hijackers belonged to Bin Laden's network. There was also firm evidence that shortly before the September 11 outrage Bin Laden was preparing a major operation against America. Mr. Blair reiterated plans to ``eliminate'' the threat from Bin Laden, and if necessary, to topple the Taliban regime in Afghanistan if it came in the way of flushing out the terrorist network in the country.

The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw said it was not the primary aim to overthrow the Taliban regime but if it did not co-operate it must be prepared for consequences. Both he and Mr. Blair made a reference to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir while stressing the need to meet head on the threat from terrorists.

Meanwhile, the former British Prime Minister, Ms. Margaret Thatcher triggered a row saying that there had not been enough condemnation of the September 11 attacks from Muslims. ``The people who brought down those towers were Muslims, and Muslims must stand up and say that is not the way of Islam...they must say that it was disgraceful. I have not heard enough condemnation from Muslim priests,'' she told The Times.

Her remarks provoked a sharp reaction from Muslim organisations. They said, barring a few fanatics whom they had publicly denounced, the Muslim community had strongly and consistently condemned what happened in America.

They blamed the media for creating a misleading image of Muslims and said Lady Thatcher's remarks were based on ``misinformation''. She was described as ``out of touch'' with the developments. Her comments, it was feared, could fuel the anti-Islam backlash and embarrass the Tory leadership which has echoed the government view that the current campaign against terrorism is not aimed at Islam. Lady Thatcher could find herself on the wrong side of the proposed law against incitement of religious hatred, if she were to make similar statements in future.

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Section  : International
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