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Blair Declares War on Taliban
Tuesday, October 02, 2001
By Matthew Tempest / political correspondent

"To the Afghan people we make this commitment. We will not walk away, as the outside world has done so many times before."

BRIGHTON, UK -- The Guardian
Tony Blair today declared unequivocal war on the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, as he delivered the gravest speech of his political life.

In a 50-minute speech received in a sombre silence by Labour delegates in the conference hall in Brighton, and watched by millions of television viewers around the world, the prime minister gave the regime a chilling warning: "There is no diplomacy with Bin Laden or the Taliban regime.

"We stated the ultimatum; they haven't responded."
(More: The Guardian News Source)
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2001

Dan