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South Africa Rules Out Giving Military Aid to U.S.
Mbeki commits SA to coalition against terrorism, backs a judicious approach

CAPE TOWN
Government ruled out military involvement in US strikes against terrorist organisations yesterday, but promised the co-operation of SA's security agencies in the investigation into last week's attacks in New York and Washington.

The decision came after President Thabo Mbeki spoke to US President George Bush.

Minister in the Office of the President Essop Pahad said Bush called Mbeki at 2pm, shortly after the close of the weekly cabinet meeting. Mbeki told Bush that SA was committed to an international antiterrorism coalition.

"It is very important to note that President Bush emphasised that the US (is) not against Islam (or) Arabs and that there is no approach of collective guilt on the part of any people," Pahad said. "He indicated that a judicious approach was necessary and agreed with Mbeki that all of us feel the anger, but that a cool head is required in these circumstances and that the coalition which the US has called for will require a lot of discussion."

Bush's call to Mbeki was the latest in a series of contacts with world leaders in a bid to rally support for military strikes expected to follow last week's attacks.

It came as a US aircraft carrier battle group set out from Norfolk, Virginia, for the Mediterranean and "points east", a move that Pentagon officials said was the start of a US repositioning of its military forces worldwide.

Fears of an imminent retaliation grew yesterday as the White House bluntly rejected calls by Afghanistan's Taliban rulers for talks on the US demand that it hand over Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the US attacks.
(More: News Source)

Dan