M A I N   N E W S

Attacks may be linked to Laden

Washington, September 11
People who conducted attacks on New York and Washington that destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon may have had links to Saudi-exile Osama Bin Laden or his organisation, a US official said today.

“There are indications that people with links to Bin Laden and the al Qaeda organisation may have been responsible, but it is still too premature and that has not been determined,” the official told Reuters.

“There is reason to believe people with links to him may have been responsible for this,” he added.

US President George W.Bush, facing the first big test of his eight-month presidency, called the deliberate aerial assaults an “apparent terrorist attack,” and vowed to hunt down and punish those responsible.

The attacks, the worst on the US mainland in modern history, plunged the country into chaos and panic, paralysing communications, forcing the evacuation of key buildings, closing financial markets, schools and even theme parks.

LONDON: Followers of Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden warned three weeks ago that they would carry out a “huge and unprecedented attack” on US interests, a London-based Arab journalist said on. Reuters, AP

Taliban: Bin Laden not behind attacks

Kabul, September 11
A spokesman for Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban said today that Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden could not be responsible for a spate of terror attacks in the USA.

“What happened in the USA was not a job of ordinary people. It could have been the work of governments. Osama bin Laden cannot do this work, neither us,’’ Abdul Hai Mutmaen told Reuters from the southern city of Kandahar.

“We are not supporting terrorism. Osama does not have the capability. We condemn this.” Reuters

India expresses shock over attacks

New Delhi, September 11
India tonight expressed shock and horror over the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington even as it tightened security in the US embassy here and other US missions across the country.

The government has initiated necessary action to provide protection to US missions in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai, besides other US installations in the country. PTI

Vigil on US installations up
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 11
The Vajpayee government tonight sounded a general alert across the country and asked all state police authorities to enhance security in all American installations and other vital locations in the wake of series of devastating bomb attacks in New York and Washington.

A direction to this effect was given by Union Home Minister L K Advani, who reviewed the situation arising out of the attacks on key American installations in the USA reportedly by some hardline Islamic fundamentalist group.

Mr Advani also apprised the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee about the latest developments vis-a-vis the bloody attack and also had discussions with the Defence and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.

Special directions were issued tonight from the Union Home Ministry to all the state police authorities, especially in the four metropolis Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata to enhance the security cover and vigil in and around vital installations, including the American installations.

In Delhi, security cover around the US Embassy and other American installations like the American Centre in the heart of the Capital, was further tightened to prevent any untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, India tonight condemned the “dastardly crime” and said it stood with the USA and the rest of the international community in its commitment to defeat terrorism.