British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair has dismissed suggestions the US-led coalition against terror was weakening.
"That coalition, if anything, is even stronger today," he said at a news conference with US President Mr George W. Bush in Washington yesterday.
"From the discussions I had with European leaders just a few days ago, their commitment is real and their determination is also absolute to see this thing done".
Mr Bush said the defences of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban were crumbling "slowly but surely" and that the military action had "Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda thugs on the run".
Mr Blair said: "We have discussed humanitarian issues and we make sure we are doing everything we possibly can to help the people of Afghanistan.
"We have discussed also the reconstruction of Afghanistan, how we make sure that after the present Afghanistan regime is out of the way, that we work for a broad-based regime," said Mr Blair.
Mr Bush warned again: "This is a struggle that's going to take a while and it's not one of those 'Kodak moments'; it is a long struggle and a different kind of war".
The US president also spoke of "our great compassion for the innocents in Afghanistan", saying: "We must feed the people".
PA, AFP