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EU leaders support US military action to combat Taliban

EU leaders pledged wholehearted support for the US-led military action in Afghanistan and called for new EU measures against terrorism to be put in place quickly.

"The EU stands firmly by the side of the USA," German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told reporters at a tightly guarded EU summit on Friday at which leaders also promised to step up vigilance and cooperation against bioterrorism.

The 15 leaders said the US-led strikes on Afghanistan were legitimate and targeted, and pledged to do all they could to ensure civilians were spared -- a gesture to EU neutrals such as Sweden that have voiced concern over civilian casualties.

The final statement indirectly backed removal of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, calling for UN-led efforts to bring about "a stable, legitimate government representative of the whole Afghan population." The EU pledged to join a massive international post-war relief and reconstruction effort.

"There is no doubt that the Taliban regime must be removed," French President Jacques Chirac said.

The EU leaders said their aim was to eliminate Saudi-born Islamic militant Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda organization, blamed for the Sept. 11 attacks on the US.

The EU's show of unity was soured by criticism of a private meeting of British, French and German leaders on military aspects of the campaign before the main summit.

Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain brushed aside the criticism, saying it was important that those countries most closely involved on the military side should confer.

"There was a unanimous view in the European Union that we have to see this military action through to a successful conclusion," Blair told a news conference.

"Although no [biological or chemical] attack has occurred in Europe, the authorities will maintain increased vigilance," the leaders said.
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