Bahrain, Qatar back anti-terrorism drive

Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa stated yesterday that Bahrain supports the international community's drive to face all forms of terrorism and to tackle its cause.

In a statement to Bahrain News Agency on the current developments in the region following military strikes against Afghanistan, Sheikh Khalifa said: "Bahrain is determined to ensure, along with the good efforts of the world community, that the brotherly Muslim people of Afghanistan should not bear the consequences of this campaign.

"We hope this will be taken into consideration, and the joint international efforts to solve the crisis should pave the way for a suitable approach that respects the national unity of Afghanistan. This should be achieved through free will and legitimate means, representing the rights of the people."

Dealing with the Palestinian issue, the Prime Minister emphasised the need to restore their legitimate right as reiterated by Bahrain time and again.

BNA earlier reported that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned Bahrain Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to assure him the strikes against Afghanistan which began late Sunday were aimed "strictly" at military targets.

Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, elements of which almost certainly took part in the military strike, and grants Washington facilities under a defence agreement.

However, Manama had said it would not allow the use of bases on its territory as a springboard for attacks on any other country.

In Paris, Qatar Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said that Qatar has received no definitive proof that Osama bin Laden was behind last month's attack on the United States but backs the fight to track down extremists.

"Nobody gave us definitive proof," Sheikh Hamad told reporters after talks in Paris with French President Jacques Chirac.

"We wish to see any guilty guerrillas...captured and put on trial, which could be witnessed by people around the world," he told reporters after a 45-minute meeting with Chirac during a stopover on his way to Qatar from Washington.

On the U.S.-led raids on Afghanistan, he said: "We would have liked it if things had not got to that stage. We are in principle against wars and against the felling of victims throughout the world," he said.

"We totally agree with France. We are in favour of the fight against terrorism, whatever the form of terrorism. Our position is clear," the Emir said. He said Washington had not asked Qatar for military assistance.

Qatar currently chairs the 56-member Organisation of Islamic Conference and has said the raids have not affected plans for an emergency OIC meeting in Qatar tomorrow, called by Iran to formulate a Muslim reaction to the attacks on New York and Washington.