US seeks Mid-East help against terror

US forces are already massed in the Gulf

United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has begun a tour of the Middle East by telling Saudi leaders that the US intends to use whatever means are necessary - including military action - in its campaign against terrorism.

Mr Rumsfeld arrived in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Wednesday in an attempt to drum up support for the US-led coalition against terror.

I did give the Saudi leadership the sense that we do intend to proceed on all fronts using the full force of the United States Government

Donald Rumsfeld

He had said before he left that he would not press the Saudi Government to be more than a silent partner in the campaign against those held responsible for last month's attacks in the US.

The American defence secretary is also due to visit Oman, Egypt and Uzbekistan - which borders on Afghanistan.

Meanwhile France has agreed to allow the United States to use its airspace and says it will also co-operate with the US Navy in the Indian Ocean.

And the United States has given its Nato allies a list of requests for specific assistance in the fight against terrorism.

Rumsfeld: Building the coalition

Nato spokesman Yves Brodeur declined to disclose details, but said the list included both military support and more indirect help.

Mr Brodeur said there was no deadline for a response and no demands had been made of individual countries.

The request was made in the framework of Article 5 of the Nato treaty - a mutual defence clause which became fully operational on Tuesday when the alliance accepted Washington's evidence that Bin Laden was linked to the 11 September attacks on the US.

Intelligence the 'key'

Mr Rumsfeld said intelligence, not military action, would be the key to breaking Osama Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network.