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Low Graphics Wednesday, 7 November, 2001, 23:21 GMT
Bush and Blair confident of victory
Blair and Bush: Military strategy was on the agenda
US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair have said they are confident of winning the war against terrorism, no matter how long it takes.
After talks in Washington, President Bush said he believed "great progress" was being made in Afghanistan and that the war against Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network would be won.
There is a complete and total commitment to making sure that this is a battle in which we will prevail
Tony Blair
The two leaders told a news conference that they had discussed military strategy, humanitarian issues and the establishment of a broad-based coalition in Afghanistan.
The talks came as the US Government moved to freeze the assets of more people and organisations with alleged links to Osama Bin Laden, the chief suspect behind the 11 September terror attacks.
Offices of financial institutions were shut down in four US states, as President Bush named a further 62 individuals and groups whose assets in the US will be frozen.
Among those targeted are two financial networks, al-Taqwa, and al-Barakaat, which have outlets in several countries - the latter with several offices in the US.
In other developments:
The Northern Alliance opposition in Afghanistan says a key Taleban commander has been killed in US air strikes near the city of Mazar-e-Sharif
US homeland security chief Tom Ridge tells journalists he is "hopeful" the anthrax outbreak is over
After brief stopovers in Iran and Turkey, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf arrives in France for talks on the Afghan crisis
Pakistan gives permission for new Afghan refugees fleeing US bombing to be moved to designated refugee sites
The UN says the Taleban is hindering humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan
Mr Blair flew to Washington on Concorde to brief President Bush on his recent Middle East tour and to discuss the military campaign in Afghanistan.
Both leaders said they were working to achieve peace in the Middle East, but that al-Qaeda would be brought to justice whatever the situation in that region.
"The determination to see that justice is done is every bit as strong today as it was on 11 September," the UK prime minister said.
Money freeze
Mr Bush said the war on terrorism was also being waged on the financial front.
Washington is asking the authorities in several other countries to freeze the assets of people and groups suspected of having links to Bin Laden.
The latest list includes names in the US, as well as Switzerland, Somalia, Liechtenstein, the Bahamas, Sweden and Canada.
Following the 11 September attacks, the Bush administration had already moved to freeze the assets of 66 individuals, organisations and businesses.
Financial offices in four states were closed
Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said the US had blocked Taleban and al-Qaeda funds worth $24 million, with at least another $43 million in assets being frozen in other countries around the world.
He said 112 countries have orders in force freezing the assets of organisations suspected of being linked to Bin Laden.
Nearly 1,000 more "suspect" accounts are under review, he said.
Mr Bush said that al-Taqwa and al-Barakaat "raise funds for al-Qaeda, manage, invest and distribute those funds, provide internet services and secure telephone connections, and arrange for the shipment of weapons".
Meanwhile, Italian news agencies reported that the government had frozen bank accounts linked to seven people on Washington's list.
Equal importance
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the "war on the financial front" was just as important as the US military action against al-Qaeda and the Taleban in Afghanistan.
Bush: "We are making great progress"
"The less money they have, the fewer missions they'll be able to carry out," he said.
US officials have been stepping up investigations into informal, largely unregulated financial networks, known as hawalas, which are common in the Middle East, Reuters news agency said.
Movements of cash through such networks are extremely hard to trace because they work on trust and often do not involve the physical transfer of funds.
BBC business reporter Mark Gregory says a phone call or a coded message from one country is sufficient to release money held in another.
WATCH/LISTEN
ON THIS STORY
US President George W Bush and British PM Tony Blair
Key stories
Latest news
Al-Qaeda money blocked
Help for refugees
Blair defends bombing
Taleban gagged
Opposition 'advances'
Correspondents
Coalition's muscle
Refugee camp misery
Suburban grief
Panjshir haven
FACT FILES
Strikes and key maps
Military picture
AUDIO/VIDEO
TV and radio reports
TALKING POINT
Put your questions about the war
SPECIAL REPORTS
Anthrax alert
Attack on America
See also:
07 Nov 01 | Americas
US 'hopeful' anthrax scare over
19 Sep 01 | Business
Following the money trail
24 Sep 01 | Business
Will Bush's asset freeze work?
22 Sep 01 | Business
Terror attacks shares probe
16 Oct 01 | South Asia
Mazar-e-Sharif: Strategic target
07 Nov 01 | UK Politics
Blair arrives upbeat for US talks
Internet links:
US Treasury
White House
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
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