Tuesday, September 25, 2001, updated at 23:53(GMT+8)
World
Blair Demands Taliban Hand Over bin Laden or Face Conflict
British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday issued the strongest warning yet to Afghanistan's Taliban to hand over Osama bin Laden or face the military might of the West.
Blair told a press conference in his Downing Street office that "military action there will be" unless the Taliban regime surrenders bin Laden, who has been listed by the United States as the prime suspect in the September 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington.
"Military conflict there will be unless the Taliban change and respond to the ultimatum given to them," he said.
Since the terror attacks on the United States, Blair has offered strong backing to U.S. President George W. Bush, helping him build an international coalition in support of the U.S. war campaign against terrorism.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday issued the strongest warning yet to Afghanistan's Taliban to hand over Osama bin Laden or face the military might of the West.