IsraeliForeign Minister Mr Shimon Peres called the US attack on Afghanistan today a brave decision by US President Mr George W. Bush.
"It is a brave decision by the president, along with (his) very convincing and touching speech," Mr Peres said referring to Mr Bush's televised address from the White House announcing the commencement of the attacks.
Speaking on Israel's Channel Two television in the first official Israeli reaction to the US-led military campaign, Mr Peres said all were praying for the welfare of the American army and its allies.
GermanChancellor, Mr Gerhard Schroeder, said the German government supported "without reservation" the US attacks on "terrorist targets in Afghanistan".
The head of German government said in a statement President Bush had informed him beforehand by telephone an attack was imminent.
The statement said Mr Schroeder "once again assured the US President of Germany's unconditional solidarity with the United States of America" and that Mr Bush had thanked the chancellor "for the German position".
The US President also contacted his Frenchcounterpart Mr Jacques Chirac to inform him that the US was about to launch attacks on Afghanistan, Mr Chirac's spokeswoman Ms Catherine Colonna said.
On Friday night, the French president held a special meeting with Prime Minister Mr Lionel Jospin, Defence Minister Mr Alain Richard and Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Hubert Vedrine, the spokeswoman added, without providing further details.
Mr Sergei Prikhodko, a senior Russianforeign adviser also said Mr Bush phoned the President Mr Vladimir Putin to inform him about the strikes shortly before the offensive took place.
ItalianPrime Minister Mr Silvio Berlusconi put Italy on a state of alert today shortly after US-led military strikes commenced, his office announced.
Mr Berlusconi has set up a crisis cell at his offices in Rome's Mr Palazzo Chigi under the command of an Italian general, officials said.
They said the US Vice President, Mr Dick Cheney, had telephoned Mr Berlusconi to warn him of the attacks earlier today.
Mr Cheney is also believed to have contacted the TurkishPresident Mr Ahmet Necdet Sezer to warn him that attacks were imminent attack on Afghanistan.
Mr Sezer is believed to responded that he hoped innocent civilians would be spared during the military strikes but that Turkey supports US efforts to fight international terrorism and wished the US operation success, the statement said.
The Belgianinterior ministry meanwhile said security measures put into place after the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington remained in effect "more than ever."
AFP and