Bush and Blair confident of victory

Blair and Bush: Military strategy was on the agenda

US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair have said they are confident of winning the war against terrorism, no matter how long it takes.

With doubts about the war growing in some parts of the world, the two leaders insisted that the Taleban and Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network were on the run.

There is a complete and total commitment to making sure that this is a battle in which we will prevail

Tony Blair

They told a news conference in Washington that they had discussed military strategy, humanitarian issues and the establishment of a broad-based coalition in Afghanistan.

The talks came as the US Government moved to freeze the assets of more people and organisations with alleged links to Osama Bin Laden, the chief suspect behind the 11 September terror attacks.

Offices of financial institutions were shut down in four US states, as President Bush named a further 62 individuals and groups whose assets in the US will be frozen.

Among those targeted are two financial networks, al-Taqwa and al-Barakaat, which have outlets in several countries - the latter with several offices in the US.

Bin Laden: "On the run"

Mr Blair flew to Washington on Concorde to brief President Bush on his recent Middle East tour and to discuss the military campaign in Afghanistan.

Both leaders said they were working to achieve peace in the Middle East, but that al-Qaeda would be brought to justice whether or not there was peace in the region.

"There is no way whatever our action in Afghanistan is conditional on peace in the Middle East," Mr Blair said.

'Shutting down caves'

Asked why Bin Laden had not been captured yet, Mr Bush said this was a new kind of war that was being fought.

This is a struggle that's going to take a while and it's not one of those 'Kodak moments'

President Bush

"I feel we are making good progress. This is a struggle that's going to take a while and it's not one of those 'Kodak moments'. It is a long struggle in a different kind of war.

"We have a sound strategy in place that's got the Osama Bin Laden thugs on the run... We know he hides in caves. We are shutting down caves... We are relentless in our pursuit of our mission," the American president said.

Echoing Mr Bush's words, the UK prime minister said the air strikes were having "a huge impact".

He said virtually all terrorist training camps had been destroyed, together with enormous amounts of the Taleban's military structure and defences.

"We have a very, very strong situation," he added.

But Mr Blair said that air strikes alone would not win the war, and that other operations would also be mounted.

The prime minister dismissed suggestions that the international coalition and public support were weakening.

"The determination to see that justice is done is every bit as strong today as it was on 11 September," he said.

After dinner at the White House, Mr Blair flew back to London where he will hold talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday.