September 11 News.com - International Reaction - The 09-11-2001 Attacks on the USA With Archived News, Images, Photos, & Newspapers from the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks on New York City & the Pentagon.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed horror and sent condolences to U.S. President George W. Bush. "There have been the most terrible, shocking events taking place in the United States of America within the last couple of hours," Blair says. "We can only imagine the terror and carnage there and the many, many innocent people who have lost their lives." This was "perpetrated by fanatics who are utterly indifferent to the sanctity of human life, and we, the democracies of this world, are going to have to come together to fight it and eradicate this evil completely from our world." Queen Elizabeth II said she was watching developments in "growing disbelief and total shock."			Blair: "Fanatics"
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Americans "Our hearts are with you and we are ready to provide any assistance at any time." Israel declared Wednesday a day of mourning and set up a blood bank for the injured. "This is a war between good and evil and between humanity and the bloodthirsty," said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. He added that the attacks would be "a turning point in the war against international terror."			Sharon: "Good & Evil"
French President Jacques Chirac expressed outrage, and assured the United States of France's support and sympathy. "France is deeply upset to learn of the monstrous attacks that have just struck the United States," says Chirac. "In these terrible circumstances, all French people stand by the American people. We express our friendship and solidarity in this tragedy."			Chirac: "Monstrous"
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference and expresses deep sympathy to the American people, calling the incidents a "terrorist act, this terrible tragedy." Russian President Putin added, "the entire international community should unite in the struggle against terrorism . . . this is a blatant challenge to humanity."			Putin: "Unite"
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said "There can be no doubt that these attacks are deliberate acts of terrorism, carefully planned and coordinated and as such I condemn them utterly. Terrorism must be fought resolutely wherever it appears."
Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent a message to Bush, and expressed condolences to the family members of the victims of the attacks. He also expressed "grave concern" for the safety of Chinese in the United States.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said: "the German people stand by the United States of America at this difficult hour." "I want to express to you my deep condolences and my unlimited solidarity to you and the American people. Our sympathy goes to the victims and their relatives." Schroeder said, "They were not only attacks on the people in the United States, our friends in America, but also against the entire civilized world, against our own freedom, against our own values, values which we share with the American people." Calling Tuesday's attacks a threat to peace and freedom everywhere, he said, "We will not let these values be destroyed – in Europe, America or anywhere in the world."
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien calls the attacks "a cowardly act of unspeakable violence . . . It is impossible to fully comprehend the evil that would have conjured up such a cowardly and depraved assault." Chrétien was one of the first world leaders to speak to President Bush. Fearing additional attacks, all planes in the sky on the morning of September 11, 2001 were ordered to land at the closest airports, and Canada became an emergency landing site for hundreds of international and domestic flights bound for the USA. For several hours the Canada-US border was closed.			Chrétien: "Cowardly"
Mexican President Vicente Fox said: "Today the whole world and here in Mexico began the day with this high-impact news, this criminal act of terrorism, which we reject along with all forms of violence. We want from here to express our solidarity and our support to all the victims of these acts of terrorism and their family members. We reiterate our complete, emphatic rejection of all forms of violence and all forms of terrorism."
Japan's Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, said "this outrageous and vicious act of violence against the United States is unforgivable."
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called the attacks in New York and Washington "horrific" and added in a televised statement: "Egypt firmly and strongly condemns such attacks on civilians and soldiers that led to the deaths of a large number of innocent victims."
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said "I send my condolences, and the condolences of the Palestinian people to American President Bush and his government and to the American people for this terrible act," Arafat told reporters in Gaza. "We completely condemn this serious operation. . . . We were completely shocked . . . It's unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable," says a visibly upset Arafat. Sheik Ahmed Yassin, whose Islamic militant Hamas group has carried out a series of suicide bombings in Israel, said he was not interested in exporting such attacks to the United States. "We are not ready to move our struggle outside the occupied Palestinian land. We are not prepared to open international fronts, however much we criticize the unfair American position," Yassin told reporters in Gaza City.			Arafat: "Unbelievable"
In Colombia, the government of President Andres Pastrana, struggling with its own decades-old civil war, "condemn and reject the cowardly and villainous terrorist attacks committed today against the American people." Pastrana was awaiting the first visit by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, scheduled to arrived in Bogotá later that day for a two-day visit. That trip was cancelled as Powell left a meeting of the Organization of American States he was attending in Lima for Washington.			Colin Powell leaves Lima Peru for U.S.
In a rare afternoon television address, Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian urged the public to stay calm, saying the island must "stick together when facing a possible change in the international situation."
North Korea called the attacks "tragic," adding that it "is opposed to all forms of terrorism." The U.S. State Department lists North Korea among seven national "sponsors of terrorism."
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad Mahathir expressed sadness, but urged the U.S. government not to seek revenge. "Retaliation will lead to the deaths of many people and will be followed by more counter-strikes," he was quoted as saying.
Addressing parliament, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said the Group of Eight – the seven leading industrialized nations and Russia – "are considering the possibility of holding a summit which can undertake concrete steps."
At a special meeting, European Union foreign ministers asked "all Europeans to observe three minutes of silence" on Friday, Sept. 14th at 6 a.m. EDT. They declared Friday a "day of mourning" in all 15 EU nations because the attacks were "not only on the United States, but against humanity itself and the values of freedom we all share." The EU ministers said in a statement "There will be no safe haven for terrorists and their sponsors, the Union will work closely with the United States and all partners to combat international terrorism."
NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson said "An attack on one is an attack on all," after the alliance's 19 ambassadors decided to invoke Article 5 of the NATO charter for the first time in the alliance's history. "At the moment this is an act of solidarity," Robertson said, adding that the declaration "in no way" binds the United States "against taking action on its own." In a later statement, the NATO allies said "in the event of attacks ... each ally will assist (the United States) by taking such action as it deems necessary. Accordingly, the United States' NATO allies stand ready to provide the assistance that may be required as a consequence of these acts of barbarism."
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, whom the United States has accused of backing international terrorism, called the attacks "horrifying" and urged Muslim aid groups to offer help "regardless of political considerations or differences between America and the peoples of the world." Gadhafi said, "Irrespective of the conflict with America it is a human duty to show sympathy with the American people, and be with them at these horrifying and awesome events which are bound to awaken human conscience."
Syrian President Bashar Assad sent a condolence message to the White House, calling for "world cooperation to eradicate all kinds of terrorism."
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, a moderate who is struggling for power against the country's hard-line Islamic leaders, expressed "deep regret and sympathy with the victims" and said "it is an international duty to try to undermine terrorism."
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, one of three countries then recognizing the Taliban's government (Sept. 11), condemned the attacks and called for cooperation to combat the "modern-day evil" of terrorism.
September 12, 2001	September 13, 2001	Taliban's Ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abul Salam Zaeef, said "It is premature to level allegations against a person who is not in a position to carry out such attacks, it was a well-organized plan and Osama has no such facilities."	September 14, 2001
	Interpol puts bin Laden on their Wanted List.	Taliban official Mutawakel tells journalists in Pakistan "where is the evidence" against Osama bin Laden.	"No evidence"

Pope John Paul II called the attacks an "unspeakable horror" which has
thrust the U.S. into a "dark and tragic moment." The pontiff says, "I hurry to
express to you and your fellow citizens my profound sorrow and my
closeness in prayer for the nation." Addressing his weekly general audience
in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul II told Americans that "those who
believe in God know that evil and death do not have the final say."

Photos and pictures are © AP or Reuters. Click on the pictures of world leaders for a larger image. September 11 news.com features the reactions of world leaders, and the US Government, following the 9-11-2001 terrorist attacks against the USA.

Pope: "Unspeakable"

Full Text of the Speech by Pope John Paul II from the Vatican on September 12, 2001

I cannot begin this audience without expressing my profound sorrow at the terrorist attacks which yesterday
brought death and destruction to America, causing thousands of victims and injuring countless people. To the
President of the United States and to all American citizens I express my heartfelt sorrow. In the face of such
unspeakable horror we cannot but be deeply disturbed. I add my voice to all the voices raised in these hours
to express indignant condemnation, and I strongly reiterate that the ways of violence will never lead to
genuine solutions to humanity's problems.

Yesterday was a dark day in the history of humanity, a terrible affront to human dignity. After receiving the
news, I followed with intense concern the developing situation, with heartfelt prayers to the Lord. How is it
possible to commit acts of such savage cruelty? The human heart has depths from which schemes of
unheard-of ferocity sometimes emerge, capable of destroying in a moment the normal daily life of a people.
But faith comes to our aid at these times when words seem to fail. Christ's word is the only one that can
give a response to the questions which trouble our spirit. Even if the forces of darkness appear to prevail,
those who believe in God know that evil and death do not have the final say. Christian hope is based on this
truth; at this time our prayerful trust draws strength from it.

With deeply felt sympathy I address myself to the beloved people of the United States in this moment of
distress and consternation, when the courage of so many men and women of good will is being sorely tested.
In a special way I reach out to the families of the dead and the injured, and assure them of my spiritual
closeness. I entrust to the mercy of the Most High the helpless victims of this tragedy, for whom I offered Mass
this morning, invoking upon them eternal rest. May God give courage to the survivors; may he sustain the
rescue-workers and the many volunteers who are presently making an enormous effort to cope with such
an immense emergency. I ask you, dear brothers and sisters, to join me in prayer for them. Let us beg the
Lord that the spiral of hatred and violence will not prevail. May the Blessed Virgin, Mother of Mercy, fill the
hearts of all with wise thoughts and peaceful intentions.

Today, my heartfelt sympathy is with the American people, subjected yesterday to inhuman terrorist attacks
which have taken the lives of thousands of innocent human beings and caused unspeakable sorrow in the
hearts of all men and women of good will. Yesterday was indeed a dark day in our history, an appalling
offence against peace, a terrible assault against human dignity.

I invite you all to join me in commending the victims of this shocking tragedy to Almighty God's eternal love.
Let us implore his comfort upon the injured, the families involved, all who are doing their utmost to rescue
survivors and help those affected. I ask God to grant the American people the strength and courage they
need at this time of sorrow and trial.