US allies around the world strongly supported the American-led attack on Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden's network. But the Muslim world was deeply divided, with some countries opposing the assault and others setting off protests by backing it.
As security was stepped up around US embassies in many countries, and Americans were urged to stay off the streets, anti-US protests were held across the Islamic world.
PHOTO: NY TIMES
In Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, Taliban ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef called the attacks on Afghanistan indiscriminate terror against civilians, and claimed that 20 people were killed, including women, children and the elderly. The Taliban said bin Laden survived the assault.
In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, 200 Islamic students rallied outside the US Embassy in Jakarta. "Holy war! Holy war! America is the great Satan," chanted many in the crowd. "America is the real terrorist."
Indonesia's government has supported the US-led campaign against terrorism, but said it was "deeply concerned" about the possibility of the air strikes hitting Afghan civilians.
In the Philippines, about 30 left-wing activists from the New Nationalist Alliance burned pictures of US President George W. Bush in a brief protest in front of the US Embassy.
In Vietnam, guards armed with automatic rifles patrolled the grounds of the US Embassy after receiving a threat of an attack.
Similar anti-US protests were held in Egypt and Syria on Sunday.
The US State Department has issued a worldwide caution, warning of possible "strong anti-American sentiment and retaliatory actions against US citizens and interests."
Many allies of the US and Britain praised their air strikes on military targets and bin Laden's training camps in Afghanistan. They came after the South Asian nation ignored US demands to hand over bin Laden, the Saudi exile who is the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that killed thousands of people in New York and Washington.
In addition to the EU, the US supporters included China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Russia, Pakistan, India, the Philippines and Taiwan. Others were Israel, Thailand, Hungary, Poland, Albania, Singapore and Croatia.
France, Canada, Australia, Italy and Germany agreed to Bush's request to contribute forces. Others granted air transit or landing rights, or were providing intelligence to help with the US-led global war against terrorism, Bush said.
But in the Arab world, the reaction was much more complicated.
Turkey, the only member of NATO with a predominantly Muslim population, gave a full endorsement.
Like other Gulf nations, Saudi Arabia, which supported US-led forces during the Gulf War, remained silent about the action in Afghanistan. Iran and Iraq voiced protest.
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein called the attack "an act of aggression that runs contrary to international law." Iraqi TV broadcast a statement by Saddam saying: "Today, America has carried out an assault on ... the poorest among the peoples and countries of the world. We do not think that any of those who are true believers in God can but condemn this action."
In Iran, another neighbor of Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said the "vast US attacks" were "unacceptable," the Iranian news agency IRNA reported.
In Malaysia, a mostly Muslim country in Southeast Asia, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad criticized the strikes.
"Our country does not agree," Mahathir told Parliament, "and we believe the attacks will not wipe out terrorism or kill the terrorists." He said, "Perhaps because of this act of war they will become more hardline and more people will join them."
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