Eye on a crisis: Terrorists 'integrated group of leaders and shadowy foot-soldiers'

In our newspaper roundup, the Washington Post has a special report on how the terror attacks were organised.

It says the hijackers "worked with little outside help as a single, integrated group composed of identifiable leaders and shadowy foot-soldiers" over 18 months.

"It now seems clear that only a single hijacker aboard each of the four commandeered aircraft knew how to fly a plane. Just two of the other hijackers - both linked to terrorist Osama bin Laden - had briefly taken flight lessons," the paper says.

"These six men apparently formed the conspiracy's leadership. Records and interviews show that this core group, often separated by thousands of miles, remained in the United States the longest and left behind the most visible tracks that, in retrospect, can be seen as highly synchronised preparations."

The New York Times says the CIA tried about three years ago to persuade the leader of the anti-Taleban Afghan opposition to capture and perhaps kill bin Laden.

It also has a report on the threat of biological warfare. Health experts say new vaccines must be developed, but the bigger problem is fortifying the public-health system, the first line of defence against a germ attack.

In Britain, the Independent reports on Yvonne Ridley, the journalist detained by the Taleban for alleged spying. If charged she would face the death penalty.

The Observer claims the US and Britain will strike terrorist camps in Afghanistan within days. The paper also has a special investigation into the network of terror in Europe.

The Telegraph reports on concern over the fate of three American special-forces soldiers amid claims they have been captured by bin Laden's guerrillas in Afghanistan.

In Egypt, Al-Ahram reports that Egypt has welcomed a United Nations Security Council resolution which obliges countries to cut all support mechanisms to "terrorist" networks.

It also says US Secretary of State Colin Powell has sent a letter to Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher which affirmed his appreciation of Egypt's role in combating "terrorism".

Pakistan's The News reports the US may offer gunship helicopters and intelligence equipment to patrol the long, rugged terrains along the Pakistan-Afghan border.

President Pervez Musharraf has given sweeping powers to security officials in the federal capital to protect Government buildings and important installations from terrorist attacks.

Dawn reports that the Norwegian Government has lifted sanctions on Government-to-Government cooperation with Pakistan.

A high level delegation led by the Minister of Finance Shaukat Aziz is leaving Islamabad for Washington on October 6 to hold talks with World Bank and IMF for acquiring a medium term new Poverty Reduction Growth Facility.

Full coverage: Terror in America

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The fatal flights

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