UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Tuesday suggested existing United Nations resolutions gave the United States the right to proceed with a military strike against those responsible for the September 11 attacks. Asked if more consultations were needed before any attack, Annan told a television channel: ''well, the Security Council Resolution (has) described the attack as a threat to international peace and security and has also reaffirmed the right of individuals and collective self defense.''
The General Assembly and the 15-member Security Council moved quickly after the attacks to condemn them in separate resolutions. The council also adopted a sweeping resolution that mandates all UN member governments to freeze the finances and control the movements of anyone involved in terrorist acts.
The United States is gearing up its military for possible strikes on Afghanistan's ruling Taliban for failing to hand over Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, its chief suspect in the September 11 attacks that killed more than 5,700 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Annan said he was surprised by the swiftness of the UN response to the attacks.
Bureau Report