The United Nations must play a leading role along with the United States in dealing with the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, has said.

Mrs Robinson, who met the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, in Dublin yesterday, said the UN "must take a very big lead with the US and in support of the US and the people of the US in addressing this problem".

Stressing the importance of Ireland taking over the chairmanship of the Security Council in October she said: "Ireland is going to have to play a very key role and has an enormous responsibility. The key role is that the chairmanship of the Security Council means you determine the agenda, you decide on how it will be done. It's a very, very frontline role."

The events of September 11th were more than acts of terrorism: "They went further than that, they constituted a crime against humanity. I really believe that is a very important dimension because it puts a responsibility on every state in the world to respond and to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice." The victims had come from many countries, including Ireland: "It is something that involves the international community and therefore involves the Security Council very deeply."

She was "very apprehensive" about the erosion of civil liberties: "I am apprehensive about what justice ministers of the EU may decide together and I want to appeal to them not to erode fundamental civil liberties."

She said she was aware of the moves towards military retaliation: "I hope that the fact that this is a crime against humanity will give another shape to how we deal with it. It is a case of ensuring that the perpetrators are handed over. It is a matter for all countries."

Asked if Osama bin Laden should be "handed over", she replied: "Of course he should and that is what has been called for and rightly. He should be brought to justice and all who are associated with him. We do need to combat terrorism and we need to do it strongly but we all need to do it."

The creation of a divide between Islamic countries and the rest of the world should be avoided: "Islam is a religion of peace and Muslim countries have spoken about their distress about the terrible events in New York."

She had just come from New York where she was "shocked at the extent of the strong feeling of hatred and aggression towards those who look Arab or Asian". Some colleagues would not even come into the UN building.