Britain said Thursday its forces were in a state of readiness in the wake of devastating terrorist attacks on America, but gave warning that its support for any US military retaliation would not be a "blank check".
As the toll of Britons killed in the strikes against the US rose into the hundreds, Prime Minister Tony Blair said that every community in Britain would be touched.
He told ministers during a somber meeting of his Cabinet that although only up to 100 British victims had been confirmed so far, the toll was certain to rise and may reach several hundred, the prime minister's official spokesman said.
That would be far the biggest British death toll from any terrorist outrage. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Britain fully supported the US, and British forces were in a state of readiness after NATO's declaration Wednesday that terrorist attacks on America were an attack on the whole alliance.
Blair's spokesman said, however, that the support of Britain, traditionally America's most staunch European ally, would not be a "blank check".
NATO's move opened the way for European allies to support any US military action against the perpetrators. Straw said he did not wish to discuss what action Britain might take in response to Tuesday's events.
Thousands of Americans are estimated to have died after hijacked US airliners slammed into the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon military headquarters near Washington D.C.
Asked what Britain's military response would be, Blair's spokesman said: "It will be for the US to decide on the appropriate action against those responsible.
"The questions that follow from that for us can obviously be discussed at the appropriate time.
"What is very, very important from the last 24 hours is that we have seen the international community coming together."
Dozens of businesses with strong presences in both London and New York fear they have lost staff in the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Blair's spokesman said the Prime Minister told colleagues that Tuesday's events would have "great ramifications for communities across Britain.
"The Prime Minister said this would be a tragedy which would touch every community here as the numbers of dead and the names of those dead became known to us."
Transport Secretary Stephen Byers told the Cabinet that security would remain tight at airports, with a no-fly zone over central London continuing.
Restrictions on light aircraft and helicopter flights were lifted overnight.
Parliament has been recalled for Friday to debate the crisis.
British flags flew at half mast at government offices while American tourists were moved to tears after a military band played the US national anthem for the first time at a special Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace in the center of the capital.
Prince Andrew, representing his mother Queen Elizabeth, and US ambassador William Farish stood solemnly side-by-side as others in crowd of well-wishers, eight deep at the palace railings, waved flags, clapped and cheered.
The two men stared grim-faced ahead as the anthem gave way to a two-minute silence to honor the victims of the atrocities in New York and Washington.
The ceremony was watched by a crowd of at least 3,000.
Many were US tourists on holiday in Britain, some unable to return home because of the flight ban.
Jenny Lee, 31, of San Francisco, said: "I was really touched that the queen has done this. Even though I'm so many miles from home, I feel that the UK is really with us on this one” – LONDON (AFP)
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