President George W. Bush on Wednesday branded terror attacks on the United States which killed thousands of people as an "act of war" and vowed to punish those responsible in a "monumental struggle of good versus evil."
"The deliberate and deadly attacks which were carried out yesterday against our country were more than acts of terror, they were acts of war," said Bush at the White House after meeting members of his national security team.
"Freedom and democracy are under attack, the American people need to know we are facing a different enemy than we have ever faced," AFP quoted Bush as saying.
The president’s remarks came 24 hours after terrorists hijacked commercial airliners and rammed them at top speed into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, outside Washington, killing thousands.
Bush declared: "this will be a monumental struggle of good versus evil, but good will prevail."
"America is united. The freedom-loving nations of the world stand by our side."
The president said that the United States was facing an enemy that "hides in shadows and has no regard for human life; this is an enemy who preys on innocent and unsuspecting people, then runs for cover," said Bush.
"But it won't be able to run for cover forever, this is an enemy that tries to hide but it won't be able to hide forever."
"This enemy attacked not just our people, but all freedom loving people everywhere in the world. The United States of America will use all our resources to conquer this enemy; we will rally the world."
Bush said he would immediately send a request for emergency funding authority to Congress and that the US government was prepared to spend whatever it might take to rescue victims and protect national security.
"We will not allow this enemy to win the war by changing our way of life or restricting our freedoms," Bush, who must face the crisis just eight months into his presidency, said.
But he warned Americans, as they go forward must be keenly aware of the threats to their security.
FBI FOLLOWING 700 LEADS IN ATTACK INVESTIGATIONS
Reports said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is attempting to unravel the events leading to the attacks, with several clues suggesting the involvement of Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden.
It has received 700 leads from the public, and has set up a website containing a form people can use to report any new information on the attacks, CNN said.
In New York, emergency teams have been sifting through the rubble to find thousands of people trapped under the rubble.
European stock markets recovered on Wednesday morning, raising hopes of an end to the turmoil that has beset exchanges worldwide since the New York and Pentagon attacks.
Secretary of State Colin Powell said he expected a "long-term conflict."
OFFICIAL: RISK OF FURTHER ATTACKS ‘SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED’
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the risk of further attacks was now "significantly reduced."
Two hijacked planes crashed into the towers of New York's World Trade Center, triggering explosions and fires that resulted in their collapse.
A third hit the Pentagon in Washington, causing a fire and between 100 and 800 casualties.
A fourth hijacked passenger jet crashed in Pennsylvania, south-east of Pittsburgh, with all 45 people on board feared dead – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
