The negative remarks raised "deep concern" among some Iranian observers, fearing that Iran might also become a target, next to the Talebans.

In their first reaction to the attacks, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder expressed "full support", for their American counterpart and promised to provide "any help" they would be asked by the Washington.
The long-awaited military strikes against Taleban communication centres, airfields and other strategic locations as well as bases believed to be those of "Al-Qa’eda", Osama Ben Laden’s organaisation started at 6.25 local time, with the bombing of targets in the Afghan capital Kabol, Qandahar, the headquarter of Mollah Mohammad Omar akhound, the ruling Taleban’s supreme leader, Jalalabad, Khudooz and Farah, among others.

"The United States should avoid any action which may encroach on the territorial integrity of the Iranian airspace", the Iraqi-born Asefi also warned.

On my orders, the United States military has begun strikes against Al-Qa’eda terrorist training camps and military installations of the Taleban regime in Afghanistan", President George W. Bush announced minutes after the start of the operations.

"These carefully targeted actions are designed to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operations and to attack the military capability of the Taleban regime," he said, reiterating, "We are supported by the collective will of the world."

Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair, as well as the French and the German leaders, in their addresses, stressed that the war was not directed against the Afghan people nor Islam, but "terrorists that have misused Islam for their heinous interests".

Both President Bush and British Prime Minister repeated that Taleban leaders had refused to meet demands made for the arrest of Mr. Ben Laden and closing all terrorist training camps in Afghanistan, but they adamantly refused.

"None of these demands were met. And now, the Taleban will pay a price," Mr. Bush promised, announcing that alongside the bombs over Taleban positions, food and humanitarian relief were also parachuted for the starved Afghan people.

"The United States of America is an enemy of those who aid terrorists and of the barbaric criminals who profane a great religion by committing murder in its name", President Bush said in his address, adding, "This military action is a part of our campaign against terrorism, another front in a war that has already been joined through diplomacy, intelligence, the freezing of financial assets and the arrests of known terrorists by law enforcement agents in 38 countries".

British Prime Minister Tony Blair Sunday confirmed that he had ordered the use of British missile-firing submarines and aircraft in joint military operations with the US against Afghanistan and described the event as "a moment of utmost gravity for the world".

"Equally it is clear that they are harboured and supported by the Taleban regime inside Afghanistan", he said, adding that the operation that started today has three military, diplomatic and humanitarian parts, "all equally important".

As the Taleban reported that both Mollah Mohammad Omar and Mr. Ben Laden were alive and stressed that they would resist and punish the Americans and the British, Mr. Ben laden promised he would continue his crusade against the Americans until they are booted out of Islam "sacred lands".

Shown dressed in fatigues and an Afghan headdress, Mr. Ben Laden, speaking from an undisclosed area but in broad daylight, said "America was hit by God in one of its softest spots", referring to the WTC twin towers.

"America is full of fear from its north to its south, from its west to its east. Thank God for that", he said, speaking in Arabic, adding: "Our nation has been tasting fear, hatred and injustices for years. Millions of innocent children are being killed in Iraq and in Palestine and we don't hear a word from the infidels. We don't hear a raised voice".

He described the war against Afghanistan as a war on Islam and added that what happened in the United States was "a natural reaction" to the ignorant policy of the United States".