British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Sunday that British missile-firing submarines were involved in US-led military strikes on Afghanistan in response to the September 11 attacks on the United States.
"I can confirm that last Wednesday the US government made a specific request that a number of UK military assets be used in the operation which has now begun, and that I gave the authority for these assets to be deployed," Blair told a press conference.
He said they included the British bases on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, reconnaissance and other aircraft and missile-firing submarines.
"The missile-firing submarines are in use tonight. The air assets will be available for use in the coming days," Blair said.
Downing Street also announced that parliament would be recalled Monday because of the international crisis, with Blair to make a statement at 6 p.m. (1700 GMT).
The prime minister made it clear that the allied coalition had lost its patience with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia.
"It is now almost a month since the atrocity occurred. It is more than two weeks since an ultimatum was delivered to the Taliban to yield up the terrorists or face the consequences. It is clear beyond doubt that the Taliban will not do this," he said.
"They were given the choice of siding with justice, or siding with terror. They chose terror," he said.
"The military action we are taking will be targeted against places we know to be involved in the al-Qaeda network of terror or against the military apparatus of the Taliban," he said.
Blair also said that all precautions had been taken in planning the military action to make sure that innocent people would not suffer.
"The military plan has been put together mindful of our determination to do all we humanly can to avoid civilian casualties," he said.
Blair also praised US President George W. Bush for building an anti-terror coalition.
"That coalition has strengthened not weakened in the 26 days since the atrocity occurred. This is no small measure due to the statesmanship of President Bush," Blair said.
Blair's speech came just after Bush addressed the nation to announce that military strikes had be launced by US-led forces against Osama bin Laden, the chief suspect behind the September 11 attacks which killed thousands, his al-Qaeda network and the Taliban -- LONDON (AFP)
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