Shanghai group condemns attacks

The prime ministers of Russia, China and four Central Asian countries have issued a joint declaration condemning the attacks in the United States as a barbaric act, defying the fundamentals of human civilisation.

The six leaders, in Kazakhstan for a meeting of the regional grouping, the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, said they were ready - in co-ordination with all states and international bodies - for an uncompromising fight to eradicate the global threat from terrorism.

The BBC Central Asia correspondent says the region's states consider Afghanistan, just to the south, a major source of instability, and Russia is known to support the anti-Taliban forces.

Our correspondent adds that China is concerned about restive Muslims in its remote western region, and is anxious to prevent them gaining support from fellow Muslims in Central Asia.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service