Bush rallies Eastern Europe

Bush: Hoping for tighter security against terrorists

President George W Bush will speak by satellite link to the leaders of 17 Eastern European nations meeting in the Polish capital, Warsaw, to urge them to keep their resolve in the fight against terror.

Eastern European leaders - overshadowed by their Western counterparts - are keen to show that they too have a role to play in the current international crisis.

World leaders are concerned that Europe's less stable half does not become the continent's 'soft underbelly'

The BBC's Ray Furlong

"We don't want to wait for activity against terrorism, we want to create activity, to create security and improve co-operation in the region," said Marek Siwiec, national security adviser to Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.

"We will be discussing an ambitious Action Plan for better co-operation among secret services."

Russia has sent Vladimir Rushailo, one of President Vladimir Putin's top security officials, as an observer to the Warsaw conference.

The BBC's Central Europe correspondent Ray Furlong says world leaders are also concerned that Europe's less stable half does not become the continent's "soft underbelly", vulnerable to terrorist penetration.

Money laundering fears

Eastern Europe is also featuring in the investigation into the 11 September attacks on America.

Western Europe has overshadowed Eastern Europe in the war on terror

Poland has revealed that suspects in the attacks on the World Trade Center travelled across its territory, and the Czech Republic has said that Mohammed Atta, suspected of piloting one of the hijacked planes, met an Iraqi agent in Prague.

There are also fears about the region being used for money laundering, and as a route for drugs.

Mr Siwiec said: "These are poor countries. Every million dollars is considered to be foreign investment and nobody cares where it comes from. We must look at this money."

Support falling

On the eve of the conference, leaders met for a series of bilateral talks at a Warsaw hotel.

They also hope the event will further their own bids for membership of the European Union and the enlargement of Nato.

In recent weeks, some East European leaders have said the 11 September attacks underline the need for both processes to speed up.

However, latest opinion polls in Poland show support for military action is falling.

Only 30% would favour sending their troops into Afghanistan, compared to 60% immediately after the attacks on the US.

So far, the Czech Republic is the only country in the region that says it is preparing forces for action - an anti-chemical warfare unit.