| Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 16, 2001 |
Afghan Situation "Definitely Better": British PM |
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British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Thursday that the situation in Afghanistan is " infinitely better" than it was just a few days ago, despite unconfirmed reports of Northern Alliance atrocities.
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British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Thursday that the situation in Afghanistan is " infinitely better" than it was just a few days ago, despite unconfirmed reports of Northern Alliance atrocities.
At a news conference in central London, Blair told reporters that with Taliban resistance largely broken the chances of ensuring a stable future government for the war-torn country had improved dramatically.
"Of course there will still be fighting... but the fact is we are in an infinitely better position," Blair said.
The prime minister warned people to treat reports of Northern Alliance atrocities with care.
"We are in a far better position than we were a few days ago to make sure of the objectives not just for the international coalition but for the people of Afghanistan," Blair said.
With the fall to the Northern Alliance of the capital Kabul, and large swathes of Afghanistan's north, the Taliban's resistance was now more likely to broken, the prime minister said.
A better, more stable and more broad-based government was possible and humanitarian aid could now be delivered much more effectively, he added.
Meanwhile, Blair also warned that the conflict in Afghanistan was far from over despite sweeping opposition victories.
"Let me emphasize once again that this is not a conflict that is yet over. We still have to achieve our objectives," he said.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw pronounced himself " relatively optimistic" over the prospect for peace in Afghanistan.
Straw compared the current situation in the war-torn country with Germany after it was defeated in 1945.
He said rebuilding Afghanistan was "bound to take some time."
Straw said speed was now of the essence in getting an interim administration that was acceptable to different tribal factions.
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