Mr. Powell became the first senior administration official to publicly identify the Osama Bin Laden group as a leading suspect in the U-S attacks. He said that once the United States has assembled convincing evidence as to who was responsible, it will take action in cooperation with allied countries or by itself if necessary:
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At that point, we will go after that group, that network, and those who have harbored, supported, and aided that network to rip the network up. And when we're through with that network, we will continue with a global assault against terrorism in general.
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Mr. Powell spoke to reporters moments before a phone conversation with Pakistani President Pervez Musharaff, whose government has close ties with the Taleban leaders in Afghanistan who have sheltered the Bin Laden group. An official here said the Powell-Musharaff talk was positive and that the Pakistani leader repeated his commitment to work with the United States. (Signed)