European nations gave wholehearted support Monday to the start of US-British attacks on Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and Osama bin Laden's network, but the strikes sparked protests and sharp criticism across the Islamic world.
In Europe, NATO and the EU underlined their backing for the military effort, while Russia and other nations expressed backing or understanding.
"There is no lack of enthusiasm for this campaign," NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson said after the alliance agreed to send five AWACS early-warning planes and crews to the US to free up US surveillance aircraft for use against bin Laden's network.
But the attack drew criticism in Iran, Sudan, Lebanon and Malaysia, among other countries, and protests in Muslim nations from Egypt to Indonesia.
In Pakistan, thousands of supporters of the Taliban burned buildings, battled police and demanded holy war against America on Monday. Two UN offices were among the targets. One person was killed and 26 were hurt in the southwestern city of Quetta, a doctor said.
Two Palestinians, aged 13 and 21, were killed and 45 injured in Gaza City, where Palestinian police opened fire on students at the Islamic University protesting the US-led military strikes. It was the worst internal fighting in several years.
European protests
Across Europe, people held mostly small, peaceful anti-war demonstrations. In Brussels, NATO's base, about 300 mostly left-wing protesters waved red flags and what appeared to be out-of-date Gulf War posters proclaiming "No war for oil" outside the US Embassy.
In Greece, more than 2,000 anti-globalization activists and leftists marched on the US Embassy in Athens. Hundreds of riot police surrounded the building, while demonstrators chanted "Americans, murderers of the peoples" and "Bush, you are the terrorist."
Demonstrations also took place in Stockholm and Helsinki, while German left-wing and far-right parties held peace marches in Berlin Monday evening. Other protests were planned in Spain and Britain.
In Istanbul, Turkey -- NATO's only Muslim member -- members of a small leftist party held an anti-US protest while about 400 Muslim worshippers chanted anti-American slogans at the end of afternoon prayers.
The US European Command, based in Stuttgart, Germany, said it was stepping up security at all its installations to the second-highest alert level, known as Charlie, at all its installations "as a prudent step."
"US forces in cooperation with the host nation and local officials are taking all the necessary steps to ensure the security of its families and facilities," it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the EU's foreign ministers said in a statement that bin Laden, the chief suspect behind the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington, his al-Qaeda movement and the Taliban regime that sheltered him "are now facing the consequences of their action."
Meeting in Luxemburg, they appealed to the UN to install a broad-based government in Kabul. Italy and Spain expressed their readiness for an increased military role, joining France and Germany.
Underlying theme
But across the Mideast, many people accused the US of applying a double standard by seeking to punish those responsible for terror strikes on US soil while ignoring what they say is another kind of terror -- Israeli actions against Palestinians.
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