US President George W. Bush warned for the first time that Osama bin Laden's network was seeking nuclear weapons, rallying European allies to fight what he called a threat to "every nation and, eventually, to civilisation itself."
Speaking via satellite to a summit in Warsaw, Poland, Mr Bush told leaders of Eastern European nations that their "freedom is threatened once again" - this time by bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorism network.
After meeting with French President Mr Jacques Chirac at the White House, Mr Bush said nations that failed to take action against terrorism would be "held accountable".
Mr Bush's speech to Eastern European leaders, and his meeting with Mr Chirac, were part of a broader diplomatic offensive aimed at shoring up support for Washington's military campaign in Afghanistan, which has drawn increased criticism in Europe and elsewhere as the civilian death toll has risen.
Continuing this drive, Mr Bush will meet Kuwait's first deputy prime minister, Mr Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, today. He will also meet with British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair.
Meanwhile Mr Bush is expected to announce new steps in the US crackdown on the financing of terrorism, aides said.
Mr Bush, in a visit to the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, will announce the United States has identified a pair of financial networks that have been responsible for funding operations of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda organisation, aides said on condition of anonymity.
Quoting unnamed sources, the Washington Postreported today that US officials were investigating several money exchanges with offices in the United States that officials say funnel tens of millions of dollars from the United States and abroad to finance terrorist activities.
The Postsaid one of these was believed to be partly owned by bin Laden.
Reuters