As winds of war strengthened, Bush for the first time singled out Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, holed up in Afghanistan under the protection of its radical Islamic government, as a prime suspect behind the attacks. Bush warned bin Laden he would not be able to hide from America's wrath.

Fearful Afghans began fleeing the country. Their hardline Taliban rulers threatened to wage a holy war against anyone helping Washington launch attacks on their country.

In his weekly radio address and in comments to reporters, Bush stepped up his rhetoric to its highest pitch since Tuesday's attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, which have left hundreds confirmed dead and almost 5,000 people still unaccounted for.

``Those who make war against the United States have chosen their own destruction,'' Bush declared.

``We are planning a broad and sustained campaign to secure our country and eradicate the evil of terrorism, and we are determined to see this conflict through.

``I will not settle for a token act. Our response must be sweeping, sustained and effective. ... You will be asked for your patience, for the conflict will not be short. You will be asked for resolve, for the conflict will not be easy. You will be asked for your strength because the course to victory may be long,'' the president said.

In brief additional remarks to reporters, Bush spoke for the first time about bin Laden, the multi-millionaire who has devoted his fortune to attacking U.S. targets in the name of a radical anti-western, fundamentalist ideology.

Bush said: ``He is what we would call a prime suspect. If he thinks he can hide from the United States, and our allies, he will be sorely mistaken.

In New York, meanwhile, where the heart-breaking work of excavating the wreckage continued, family members of those missing were asked to bring in hairbrushes, toothbrushes or clothing of their loved ones to help in DNA identification of body parts.

PAKISTAN ON BOARD

Stepping up diplomatic efforts to build an international coalition for the forthcoming military onslaught, the United States secured the crucial agreement of Pakistan, which borders Afghanistan, to back its efforts.

The United States has sought from Pakistan permission for military overflights and a closing of its border with Afghanistan, among other items.

``We put before the Pakistan government a specific list of things we would like cooperation on and they have agreed to all those items. The Pakistan government was very forthcoming and we're appreciative,'' said Secretary of State Colin Powell.

For its part, Pakistan said it would comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions on the terror attacks. ``The government will discharge its responsibilities under international law,'' Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said, adding that he did not expect Pakistan to take part in military operations outside its borders.

At ground zero in Manhattan, gray and brown clouds of smoke and dust continued to billow from the rubble of what were once New York's tallest buildings, and a stench rose from the site. The dust from mountains of ash continued to drift up and down the island, raising fears about air quality.

Almost four days after hijacked planes brought the massive 110-story skyscrapers crashing to the ground, the rescuers had made only a small dent in their task of clearing the wreckage.

Bush's visit to the site Friday lifted morale among rescue workers who greeted his speech with chants of ``USA! USA!''

Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik said the number of missing had fallen to 4,717. He said 124 people were confirmed dead, 59 of them identified, but did not explain why the figure was lower than the 184 bodies reported on Thursday. No survivors have been found since Wednesday.

At least 190 people are believed to have died when hijackers crashed a third plane into the Pentagon near Washington. Forty five more died in a fourth plane that crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought with hijackers and foiled their plan to crash into another landmark building.

India has also signaled it is ready to let the United States use its military bases. India could provide a large base for any military strike at Afghanistan, but U.S. jets would still have to cross Pakistani airspace to reach Afghanistan.

Aides to bin Laden, accused of engineering attacks on U.S. embassies in Africa in 1998 from his Afghanistan headquarters, this week denied involvement in the carnage, which bin Laden described as ``punishment from almighty Allah.''

U.S. TELLS OTHER NATIONS TO CHOOSE SIDES

Washington's message to other nations, including Arab and Islamic states, is that they must choose sides. In the coming storm, they are being told they must either back the United States or risk diplomatic and economic isolation.

Congress late on Friday authorized Bush to use ``all necessary and appropriate force'' against those responsible for Tuesday's attacks. Bush, leading a national day of prayer and remembrance, vowed ``to rid the world of evil.''

Meanwhile, the nation remained wrapped in mourning. Most weekend sporting events were canceled, including Major League baseball and National Football League play -- which never happened throughout World War II or in response to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Commercial flights resumed, but at less than half their former capacity.

In New York, technicians planned to test trading and computer systems in readiness for the planned reopening of the stock exchange and financial markets on Monday. Analysts predicted great volatility and said it was not certain the systems would hold up under the pressure.

The FBI on Friday named 19 hijackers, including seven pilots, who commandeered the four airliners used in Tuesday's terror attacks, sought to question more than 100 people and made the first arrest in the investigation, a witness said to have ``material'' information on the suicide attacks.

Search crews on Friday found the cockpit voice recorder of United Airlines Flight 93 at the Pennsylvania crash site, an FBI spokeswoman said. Officials had earlier found the flight data recorder from the aircraft.

GREEN LIGHT FROM OUTRAGED CONGRESS

With one dissenting voice, an outraged U.S. House of Representatives gave final congressional approval to a use-of-force resolution that won unanimous Senate backing earlier in the day.

Short of a formal declaration of war, the measure gave Bush the green light to strike both individuals and nations he determines ''planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks.''

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld activated 35,000 reservists out of 50,000 authorized by Bush to provide ``strike-alert'' jet fighter protection and perform other duties at domestic military bases.

An FBI spokeswoman said the discovery by search crews of the cockpit voice recorder in Pennsylvania raised the possibility further details would be learned of the drama on board. She said the device was located 25 feet (8 meters) below ground and had been sent to Washington for review.

Pennsylvania's two U.S. senators said the doomed passengers of the hijacked airliner that crashed near Pittsburgh could be awarded America's highest civilian honors after apparently thwarting an attack on a U.S. landmark.

Copyright © 2001 Reuters Limited

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