Posted on: Monday, October 8, 2001
The September 11th attack | America strikes back
Major allies declare support
Associated Press
TOKYO — U.S. allies around the world strongly supported the American-led attack on Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden's terrorist network, with some agreeing to contribute forces. But the Muslim world was divided, with three countries voicing protest and others taking no position.
As security was stepped up around U.S. embassies in many countries and Americans were urged to stay off the streets, small anti-U.S. protests were held across the Islamic world.
Many denounced yesterday's missile attacks and air raids on Afghanistan and its Taliban leadership as an act of war against Arabs and Muslims.
"We're going to surround the U.S. Embassy," said Al Habib Muhammad Riziq Syihab, the chairman of a small but vocal militant Islamic group in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country. "We call on the Indonesian government to freeze diplomatic relations with America. By attacking Afghanistan, the Americans have become terrorists."
In Pakistan, Afghanistan's neighbor, several influential Muslim clerics denounced the military attacks, calling them an assault on Islam and grounds for a holy war.
There were scattered anti-American protests in major cities of Pakistan, but no violence was reported there or anywhere else Monday.
In the Philippines, about 30 left-wing activists from the New Nationalist Alliance burned pictures of President Bush in a brief protest in front of the U.S. Embassy. One activist, dressed like Uncle Sam, burned a mock rocket symbolizing U.S. aggression.
In Vietnam, guards armed with automatic rifles patrolled the grounds of the U.S. Embassy after receiving a threat of an attack.
The U.S. State Department has issued a worldwide caution, warning of possible "strong anti-American sentiment and retaliatory actions against U.S. citizens and interests."
Many allies of the United States and Britain praised their air strikes on military targets and bin Laden's training camps in Afghanistan. They came after the South Asian nation ignored U.S. demands to hand over bin Laden, the Saudi exile who is the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that killed thousands.
In addition to the European Union, the U.S. supporters included China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Russia, Pakistan, India, the Philippines, Taiwan, Israel and Singapore.
France, Canada, Australia, Italy and Germany agreed to Bush's request to contribute forces. Others granted air transit or landing rights, or were providing intelligence to help with the U.S.-led global war against terrorism, Bush said.
But in the Arab world, the reaction was much more complicated, ranging from support, to no comment, to strong opposition.
Turkey, the only NATO member with a predominantly Muslim population, gave a full endorsement, calling the United States its friend.
Saudi Arabia's government, which supported U.S.-led forces during the Persian Gulf War, remained silent about the U.S.-British action in Afghanistan.
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein called the attack "an act of aggression that runs contrary to international law." In Iran, another neighbor of Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said the "vast U.S. attacks" were "unacceptable," the Iranian news agency IRNA reported.
In Malaysia, a mostly Muslim country in Southeast Asia, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad criticized the strikes against Afghanistan.
"Our country does not agree, and we believe the attacks will not wipe out terrorism or kill the terrorists," Mahathir told Parliament.
He called for a world summit on terrorism and criticized Israel.
"If they wanted to take action, they should pick the right people," Mahathir said of the U.S.-British forces. "I would support them if they wanted to take terrorist action against Israel, because Israel has shot dead many Palestinians. For us, those are the terrorists."
China and India backed the U.S.-led battle against terrorism, but they also urged the attacking forces to avoid hurting innocent civilians.
Australia's leader, John Howard, called the attacks "retaliation against the people who, according to the canons of any of the world's great religions, cannot call themselves people of God."
