Wednesday, 10 October, 2001, 13:56 GMT 14:56 UK
Powell hits back on diplomatic front

Colin Powell: Anti-American demos not representative

American Secretary of State Colin Powell has dismissed a
defiant statement by Osama Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda group
which threatened more attacks on the US.
"It is a chilling challenge but I assure you we will
meet that challenge," Mr Powell said on American
television.

The Secretary of State said that despite anti-American
protests in some countries, Arab nations have been very
supportive of the US-led attacks on Afghanistan.

The Taleban say dozens of civilians have been killed

He added that the United Nations was likely to play an
important role if and when the Taleban are removed from
power.

An Al-Qaeda spokesman, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, had earlier
issued a call to all Muslims to join in a jihad or holy
war against the US and attack American interests around
the world.

In response, Mr Powell said: "We will pursue this
campaign until that spokesman will no longer have any
reason to make such boasts."

'Positive response'

Speaking on American television, Mr Powell added that he
was not concerned about anti-American demonstrations
because the overwhelming response to the US-led campaign
"has been positive."

Such protests, he said, did not reflect entire
populations.

Mr Powell said he had received numerous expressions of
support during telephone conversations with Arab and
Muslim leaders after the US began to attack targets in
Afghanistan on Sunday.

"All of the nations in the world who have a concern
about terrorist activity have come together and joined
this campaign against terrorism," Mr Powell said.

Speaking of Afghanistan's future, Mr Powell said the
United Nations might play " a very, very important
role in a post-Taleban world."

Mr Powell told NBC television that Washington wanted to
see in Afghanistan a government that represents all of
the people of Afghanistan.

"We're keeping in touch with all the parties," he
said.

Just hours after Mr Powell spoke, an emergency meeting of
foreign ministers from across the Muslim world issued an
official condemnation of last month's attacks on the
United States.

But ministers from the Organisation of the Islamic
Conference, meeting in Qatar, expressed concern about
civilian casualties in Afghanistan.
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ON THIS STORY

US Secretary of State, Colin Powell
"We have to see this as a long term campaign"