In brief

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 27, 2001

Pakistan, U.S. agree on military alliance

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- U.S. and Pakistani officials ended two days of talks Wednesday in agreement on ways to combat terrorism and Osama bin Laden's network in Afghanistan.

No details were released, but a Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman, Riaz Mohammed Khan, hinted that any attacks involving Pakistan were some way off. "No joint operation or contingency plans have been placed before the Pakistan government," he said.

Pakistani officials were careful to differentiate between fighting terrorism and battling Afghans.

"There is complete unanimity between both sides to fight against terrorism," said Gen. Rashid Qureshi, spokesman for President Pervez Musharraf. He said Pakistan was not involved "in any action plan against Afghanistan" but "our efforts are to crush terrorism wherever it is."

Pakistani officials said both sides had agreed to minimize the use of ground forces in any strike in Afghanistan. That suggests that the United States was primarily interested in gaining permission to use Pakistani airspace for possible attacks against Osama bin Laden's training camps, and perhaps access to Pakistani military airfields.

The United States was also keen to receive Pakistani intelligence information on possible bin Laden hide-outs.

West superior to Islam, Italian leader declares

ROME -- Breaking ranks with allies reaching out to the Muslim world, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday said Western civilization is superior to Islam.

Berlusconi told a news conference, "We must be aware of the superiority of our civilization, a system that has guaranteed well-being, respect for human rights and -- in contrast with Islamic countries -- respect for religious and political rights, a system that has as its values understandings of diversity and tolerance."

He said he trusts "the West will continue to conquer peoples, like it conquered communism," even if it means a confrontation with "another civilization, the Islamic one, stuck where it was 1,400 years ago."

The prime minister's remarks were disavowed by other politicians in Italy, who called them ill-timed and offensive.

Overthrown Afghan king considers returning

ROME -- British lawmakers who visited Afghanistan's former king said Wednesday a return to constitutional monarchy would be one of the best ways to bring a stable, democratic government to Afghanistan.

The members of the European Parliament spent an hour Tuesday with former King Mohammad Zahir Shah, 86, who has expressed a willingness to return to Afghanistan to play a role in a transitional government if the Taliban rulers are toppled.

An American diplomat, William Pope, also met Tuesday with Zahir, who was overthrown in 1973.

The proposed government would include all sides in the country, even selected "moderate" elements of the Taliban, the son of the former monarch, Prince Mirwais Zahir Shah, told the Canadian Press. However, the prince said his father was not interested in restoring the monarchy.

Iranian leader calls U.S. 'disgusting,' won't assist

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's supreme leader said in a blistering speech Wednesday that his nation would not participate in any U.S.-led coalition against terrorism, taking a tough line despite many Iranians' expressions of sympathy for Americans.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called U.S. behavior "disgusting" and said in a state-run television address to the nation that Iran does not consider the United States "competent and sincere (enough) to lead any global campaign against terrorism."

Khamenei rejected Bush's declaration that nations had to choose between being "with us or terrorism."

"We are not with you," he said. "At the same time, we are not with terrorists. America is not sincere in fighting terrorism. It has other objectives. America's hands are stained with all the crimes committed by the Zionist regime," he said, referring to Israel.

"Iran will not extend any assistance to the U.S. and its allies in attacking the already suffering Muslim neighboring Afghanistan," Khamenei said.

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