The British parliament is to be recalled for an emergency session Friday following the devastating terrorist strikes in the United States, Prime Minister Tony Blair announced Wednesday.
Recalls only happen at times at crisis and there have only been 18 since 1948, reported the BBC.online.
Blair is also expected to give some detail about the outcome of a Downing Street summit of senior ministers, intelligence chiefs and defense staff to review security measures for the UK.
That meeting in Downing Street broke up after just over an hour at about 0915 (GMT) on Wednesday and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has headed to Brussels for emergency talks with the other European Union foreign ministers.
Earlier, Straw said terrorism of the kind that caused the devastation in America could only be defeated by closer international cooperation, the news service quoted him as saying.
"This is an event that has not only shaken the world but also tragically has changed the world, he said.
Interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today program, Straw said the attacks would have to mean security of the kind seen in Northern Ireland across Britain.
"This kind of terrorism is international and it exploits what it sees as the weakness of democracy - which is its great strength - freedom, and we have to work our way round that.
"There is no question that we can only defeat this kind of terrorism by much, much further coordinated international action."
While US President George W Bush has hinted he will take retaliatory action, Straw said he could not get into the "realm of speculation" but spoke of Britain's solidarity with America in its "hour of need."
"Of course, we will be looking at ways in which we can move our expressions of moral support and outrage into more tangible methods of support."
Restrictions have been placed on UK airspace with private planes banned from flying and no flights allowed over central London.
All government buildings, military bases and financial institutions have been placed on red alert and British people abroad have been advised to take extra precautions over their personal safety.
About 1,000 extra police officers have been deployed on the streets of London "to reassure the public."
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens said "all necessary precautions" were being taken to prevent similar attacks in the UK – Albawaba.com
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