Washington, July 7
President George Bush insisted yesterday—in the face of threats from North Korea of further missile tests—that only diplomacy could solve the crisis with the reclusive Communist state, but he warned that it could take considerable time.

"We want to solve this problem diplomatically, and the best way to solve this problem diplomatically is for all of us to be working in concert," he told reporters at the White House after a flurry of telephone calls to the leaders of China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.

All are participants in the six-nation talks with North Korea, which have been stalled for months.

But despite a shared disapproval of Pyongyang's launch of seven missiles this week, its five partners disagreed how to respond.

"Diplomacy takes a while," Mr Bush said after a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. "We're taking time ... making sure that our voice is unified." The divisions were evident at discussions within the UN Security Council over a Japanese-sponsored resolution that would impose sanctions on North Korea, despite claims by John Bolton, the US ambassador to the UN, that the draft document had "broad and deep support". Like Toyko, Washington backs economic sanctions.

But Russia does not, at least not now. Its preference is for a non-binding statement aimed at restarting the six-nation talks. President Vladimir Putin merely described the missile tests as "disappointing".

China, the country with probably the most influence over the regime of Kim Jong Il, also opposes sanctions. So does South Korea, which has long been trying to boost humanitarian ties with the North. Seoul is against any steps that could worsen the hardships of the ordinary population, and urges "patient dialogue" with its northern neighbour.

Mr Bush's comments were a tacit acknowledgement that in US dealings with this member of the "axis of evil", he has few decent options. Diplomatic contacts have been at a halt since last year. The Pentagon long ago concluded that a military strike against North Korea's missile and nuclear sites would almost certainly provoke a devastating war on the Korean peninsula.

The US insists it will consider security guarantees and increased economic aid only when Pyongyang has halted its nuclear weapons programme.

North Korea says it will do this only when solid security guarantees are in place.

Instead, Washington has been playing down the importance of the missile firings, a task made easier by the apparent failure of the most important test, of the longer range Taepodong 2, capable of reaching parts of the US.

The missile apparently flew for only a minute before falling into the Sea of Japan.

North Korea is as truculent as ever. A government statement insisted the country was perfectly entitled to conduct the tests, as part of its right to self-defence. The widespread assumption is that Pyongyang is angling for the world's attention, in the hope of reviving the six-nation talks. But there is general agreement that the Communist state should receive no reward for its intransigence.

The South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo quoted a Seoul official as saying the North may be planning to launch three or four more intermediate-range missiles.

NBC News, citing unnamed US officials, said preparations seemed to be under way for a second Taepodong test, although the weapon was not yet at the launch-pad.

—By arrangement with The Independent, London.

London, July 7
Britain today remembered the victims of the deadly suicide bombings on its transit system last year which claimed 52 lives, with memorial services, floral tributes and a two-minute silence.

The country fell silent for two-minutes in memory of the victims of the attacks, in which more than 700 people were injured.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, who attended a private memorial at London’s Fire Brigade headquarters, said the anniversary was an opportunity for “the whole nation to come together.”

He said it was a chance “to offer comfort and support to those who lost loved ones or were injured on that terrible day.”

“This is the time when our country unites across all races, religions and divides and stands in solidarity with all those who have suffered so much, in sympathy with them and in defence of the values which we share,” he said.

The silence was observed at around 0430 IST, signalled by the tolling of the Lutine Bell at the Lloyd’s of London insurance market.

Traffic came to a halt, and workers poured out of offices to line the sidewalks in a mark of remembrance and solidarity.

Earlier, flowers were laid at the King’s Cross station, the scene of one of the four attacks, at 8.50 am (local time), the precise moment when bombs on three Underground trains went off.

UK Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and London mayor Ken Livingstone led mourners in placing flowers at the station. — PTI

Islamabad, July 7
Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has hinted at taking also into consideration international opinion while deciding about doffing the uniform.

The Nation today quoted him as saying this during a meeting with MPs of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League.

The paper quoted the MPs as asking him not to hang off uniform. To this, he replied that he had been in uniform for the past 40 years, but “there are international dimensions besides domestic demands.”

“I will decide about it according to the Constitution and keeping in view the best interest of the nation,’’ the President told parliamentarians who asked him not to even mention quitting the uniform.

The six-party Islamic opposition alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has already launched an anti-government mass campaign while the PPP has threatned to move a no-trust motion against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

General Musharraf, while issuing directives to address the problems in different areas, assured the elected representatives that he would give more time to political issues and would himself monitor the progress on development projects.

He urged the ruling party members to overcome internal differences saying, if archrivals PML-N and PPP of former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto respectively could mend fences, why “can’t the ruling party members be united.”

President Musharraf said the present assemblies would complete their term and elections in the year 2007 would be free, fair and transparent.

He said he would hold public rallies in constituencies of PML representatives. — UNI