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World leaders reacted with revulsion to aircraft attack in New York and the Pentagon
World leaders reacted with revulsion on Tuesday to what President George Bush called an "apparent terrorist attack" by aircraft that crashed into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.
Palestinian and Israeli leaders joined Europe in condemning the devastating attacks that caused as yet unknown casualties.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed deep sympathy to the American people "in connection with this terrorist act, this terrible tragedy".
President Jacques Chirac expressed outrage and assured the United States of France's support and sympathy.
"France is deeply upset to learn of the monstrous attacks," he said as he broke off a regional tour to rush back to Paris.
"France has always condemned terrorism, condemns it without reserve and thinks we must fight terrorism by all means."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed his horror before racing back to London from a conference in the south.
"This mass terrorism is the new evil in our world today. It is perpetrated by fanatics who are utterly indifferent to the sanctity of life," he said.
Berlin said it was shocked and said Germany's security council was convening, chaired by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
German air traffic authorities said all European flights to the United States had been suspended.
ARAFAT
"I send my condolences, the condolences of the Palestinian people to American President Bush and his government and to the American people for this terrible act," Palestinian President Yasser Arafat told reporters in Gaza.
"We completely condemn this serious operation...We were completely shocked. It's unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable."
Israeli Defence Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told Israel's Army Radio it was "simply a tragedy".
"I sympathise with the American people," he said. "It's simply a terrible thing."
In Brussels, Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External Affairs, said:
"We are all watching events with absolute horror. Our prayers and deepest sympathies go out to our friends in the United States."
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