U.S.-British attacks win support of allies

BERLIN (AP) -- The U.S.-British attack on Osama bin Laden's network and the Afghan regime protecting him drew broad support Monday in Europe but raised anger in the Middle East.

Two Palestinians were shot dead in the Gaza Strip during clashes with Palestinian police that broke out after a protest march against the U.S.-led action in Afghanistan.

Foreign ministers from the European Union said in a statement that Bin Laden, his al-Qaida movement and the Taliban regime "are now facing the consequences of their action."

The military onslaught in Afghanistan received wide backing in Germany and France, two of Washington's key NATO allies, which along with Canada and Australia have committed themselves to providing military support if asked.

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said the military action was "inevitable and necessary" after the Taliban refused to hand over bin Laden, the chief suspect in the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.

"It's not just solidarity," Vedrine told RTL radio. "It must be our action also."

Spanish government spokesman Pio Cabanillas said Spain was sending two frigates to the eastern Mediterranean and was "absolutely ready" for a more active military role if requested. Leaders in Poland, Norway and Slovakia also expressed support.

Delivering on its pledge of support, NATO agreed to send five AWACS early-warning planes and crews to the United States to free up U.S. surveillance aircraft for use in the campaign against bin Laden's network.

"There is no lack of enthusiasm for this campaign," NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson said.

Pope John Paul II offered a prayer for peace and told a crowd in St. Peter's Square he wanted to "share with you, and entrust to God, the worry and preoccupation that arises in us in this delicate moment of international life."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strikes in Afghanistan were justified by the killing of thousands in the Sept. 11 attacks -- and that he believed Washington was doing everything it could "so that the population of Afghanistan does not suffer."

"Such a colossal loss cannot pass unnoticed or go without an adequate response," Putin said.

In Gaza, the Palestinian leadership rushed to distance itself Monday from bin Laden while its police forces opened fire on university students protesting the U.S.-led military strikes.

Two Palestinians, ages 13 and 21, were killed and 45 were injured, police sai, in the worst internal fighting in several years.

Across the Mideast, many people accused the United States of applying a double standard by seeking to punish those responsible for terror strikes on U.S. soil ignoring Israeli actions against Palestinians.

"America is acting against Osama bin Laden without showing us proof, while the evidence of what Israel is doing to the Palestinians is there for all to see on television," said Mohammed Kheir, a Syrian government employee.

Others saw the action as a war on Islam, not terrorism.

"It is clear that this war targets the Islamic and Muslim renaissance," said Jamil Abu-Baker, a spokesman for Jordan's largest Islamic opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood.

Maamoun el-Hodeibi, a spokesman for the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, called the strikes "an act of aggression and injustice committed by a powerful nation against a powerless and helpless nation."

Iran's foreign minister, Kamal Kharrazi, expressed concern that the military operation "will not eliminate terrorism, but, on the contrary, could expand (it) further."

Saudi Arabia's government, which supported U.S.-led forces during the Persian Gulf War, remained silent. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein called the operations "an act of aggression that runs contrary to international law."

In Pakistan, thousands of Taliban supporters burned buildings, battled police and demanded holy war against America. Two U.N. offices were among the targets.

One person was killed and 26 were hurt in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, a doctor said. Authorities there uncorked tear gas and fired live ammunition into the air to repel 4,000 demonstrators who torched five movie theaters, damaged a bank and burned the police station.

In Indonesia, hundreds of Islamic militants protested outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta amid new threats against Westerners living there.

China, Indonesia and India backed the U.S.-led battle against terrorism while urging the attacking forces to avoid hurting innocent civilians. Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad criticized the strikes and called for a world summit on terrorism.