Blair in 'no doubt' of Bin Laden guilt

The atrocities have changed the diplomatic climate

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair says the evidence leaves "no doubt" that Osama Bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network were responsible for the terror attacks on the US.

He told an emergency session of the House of Commons that he would make available as much evidence as he could without compromising security efforts.

We have absolutely no doubt that bin Laden and his network were responsible for the attacks

Tony Blair

"We have absolutely no doubt that Bin Laden and his network were responsible for the attacks," said Mr Blair.

He is addressing Parliament on Thursday, before flying to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin about the terror crisis. He is then expected to visit Pakistan.

Hallmarks of Bin Laden

Describing the evidence as "overwhelming", Mr Blair said the attacks bore all the hallmarks of a Bin Laden operation, including meticulous long-term planning and a desire to inflict mass casualties.

Of the 19 terrorists identified from passenger lists on the hijacked flights used in the atrocities, three were "known associates" of Bin Laden and one had played a key role in some of his earlier attacks on US targets.

Other associates had also been forewarned to return to Afghanistan before the strikes.

The prime minister said Bin Laden was able to operate with impunity because of his alliance with Afghanistan's ruling Taleban regime, which must give up the terrorists "or become our enemy also".

He emphasised that the vast majority of Muslims condemned totally last month's attacks.

Blair: Evidence is "overwhelming"

Getting humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan was as vital as military action, which would not be taken for revenge, he stressed.

Concluding his statement, Mr Blair said: "We act for justice, we act with world opinion behind us and we are absolutely determined to see justice done and this evil of mass international destruction defeated."

Replying to questions in a Commons performance that spanned more than an hour, he said there were no easy options.

"We are now approaching the difficult time when action is taken."

Pressed on whether contingency plans were in place to protect the UK chemical or biological terrorist attack, Mr Blair said: "It would be irresponsible if there was not detailed work being undertaken as to how we react to any potential threat."

Responding to the prime minister's statement, Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith told MPs: "I am convinced that Osama Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda and the Taleban are guilty as charged. Any war against these people is a just war."

Blair will meet Putin in Moscow

Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy called the evidence he had seen against Bin Laden "persuasive" and said it should be shown to UN secretary general Kofi Annan.

The next steps in the campaign against international terrorism will be at the heart of the agenda at Mr Blair's meeting with Mr Putin, with British and US diplomatic efforts intensifying as their military forces prepare for possible strikes.

Russia has swung behind the United States and is a key influence in the former Soviet republics of central Asia - some of them have offered the Americans military facilities for operations in Afghanistan.

Mr Blair's mission coincides with a trip by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to meet government and military officials in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt and Uzbekistan.

In other developments:

• Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf gives his strongest indication yet that Islamabad may have decided to abandon the Taleban
• France agrees to let US military aircraft use its airspace and says it will co-operate with the US Navy in the Indian Ocean
• Washington's Reagan National Airport is to re-open for the first time since the 11 September attacks
• US issues warning that "symbols of American capitalism" may be targeted in Italy in the coming month
• American and United Airlines say they will immediately start reinforcing their cockpit doors
• The UN Security Council says it is setting up a committee to ensure UN members comply with binding agreements in their fight against terrorism
• The US Federal Reserve slashes the benchmark federal funds rate to 2.5%, its lowest level since 1962

International coalition

On Wednesday, Mr Putin held talks with both Nato and the European Union in Brussels; he indicated a possible easing of Russian opposition to further Nato expansion amid talk of a milestone in relations.

Tony Blair's trip is thought to be co-ordinated with the United States and is another step in his efforts to solidify the international coalition.

Earlier he talked to the Indian Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, by telephone, and met the Foreign Minister, Jaswant Singh, in London.

And according to officials in Islamabad, Mr Blair will be visiting Pakistan, the key country neighbouring Afghanistan which both Britain and the United States are anxious to keep on side.

Downing Street, however, are keeping details of his destination after the Moscow visit secret for security reasons.

Such a visit to Pakistan would certainly not have happened in normal circumstances because Pakistan is under military rule and suspended from the Commonwealth until the promised return to democracy next year.

Aircraft carrier departs

The trip is due to start shortly after Mr Blair's statement to MPs in the second emergency recall of parliament since the 11 September attacks.

Expectations have also been raised by the departure of the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious from the Omani port of Salalah.

It is due to join more than 20 other Navy ships off the Gulf coast as part of a huge military exercise in the region.

Last month, a hectic diplomatic tour took the prime minister to Berlin, Paris and Washington in just three days as he tried to build support for action in the wake of the atrocities.