US, Britain vow no let up in war on terror…

George W. Bush and Tony Blair vowed no let up in the war on terror and denied their occupation of Iraq had sparked Thursday’s deadly at...

George W. Bush and Tony Blair vowed no let up in the war on terror and denied their occupation of Iraq had sparked Thursday’s deadly attacks on British targets in Turkey. As thousands of anti-war protesters swarmed London during Bush’s historic state visit, talks between the two leaders focused on the latest suspected Al Qaeda attacks.

Twin blasts in Istanbul hit the British consulate and the offices of Britain’s largest bank, HSBC. At least 27 people were reported killed and nearly 450 wounded. The consulate’s chaplain said Consul-General Roger Short was among the dead.

Bush said the Turkish attacks only strengthened his resolve. ‘‘Great Britain and America and other free nations are united today in our grief and united in our determination to fight and defeat this evil wherever it is found,” he said.

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‘‘Our mission in Iraq is noble and it is necessary, and no act of thugs or killers will change our resolve or alter their fate. We will finish the job we have begun.’’

Blair, whose popularity has slid at home over his support for the war, said: ‘‘Once again we must affirm that in the face of this terrorism there must be no holding back, no compromise…’’ The image of Bush and Blair side-by-side, vowing to stay the course in the face of terror, further cemented a bond that has not wavered since Blair vowed to stand ‘‘shoulder to shoulder’’ with the United States in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

A caller to a Turkish news agency claimed responsibility for the attacks in the name of Al Qaeda and a local Islamist group. ‘‘What has caused the terrorist attack today in Turkey is not the President of the United States. It’s not the alliance between America and Britain,’’ Blair said.

The attacks overshadowed political talks that left the British PM again open to criticism that his support for Bush has won few benefits for Britain. Bush is due to visit Blair’s constituency on Friday before flying home. (Reuters)

	…but Istanbul shadow looms over Kabul

			PRANAB DHAL SAMANTA KABUL, NOVEMBER 20 Story continues below this ad A quiet sense of insecurity has begun to play itself out on Kabul’s streets. Convoys of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) patrolled the streets for most of today and it was intensified as news of the blasts in Turkey arrived. What started with the killing of a French woman on UN duty at Ghazni a couple of days ago — resulting in the UN suspending operations in southern Afghanistan — acquired a serious dimension today with foreign missions receiving numerous threat calls in the past 24 hours. The day began with the South Korean mission ordering personnel to wind up operations. The Canadian mission also raised the alarm a few hours later saying they too have been receiving threat calls. About the fear among international bodies here, Kabul Police chief Gen. Babajan says terrorists continue to receive support from Pakistan and until that does not stop, it will be difficult to secure the place. ‘‘It is just like the situation you face in Kashmir, we face here.’’ Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s office refuses to believe that this signals the Taliban’s regrouping. Spokesman Jawed Ludin says: ‘‘Taliban has gone. What remains are unorganised groups with limited objectives.’’

India denies entry to top SOAS Hindi scholar — who is Francesca Orsini?

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Francesca Orsini, a prominent Hindi scholar and professor, was denied entry into India and sent back to London from the New Delhi airport. Orsini is renowned for her groundbreaking work on Hindi literature and has mentored scholars and given lectures on literary history and world literature.

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