China has demanded US support yesterday for its fight against "terrorism and separatism" - meaning groups such as Muslim separatists and Taiwan independence activists - in return for helping a US-led war on terrorism.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman also made clear that China expected the United Nations to be consulted before the US took any action in retaliation for last week's attacks.
He said any strikes would have to be based on "concrete evidence", should not hurt innocent people and should be conducted within international law.
"The United States has asked China to provide assistance in the fight against terrorism," he said at a news conference.
"China, by the same token, has reasons to ask the United States to give its support and understanding in the fight against terrorism and separatists."
Tajikistan is prepared to help the United States to combat international terrorism if it receives an official request, the Foreign Minister, Mr Talbak Nazarov, said yesterday, although he did not say how.
The United States is looking for international co-operation to help force Tajikistan's neighbour, Afghanistan, to surrender Osama bin Laden.
"The republic of Tajikistan is ready to co-operate with all countries which are today waging war against international terrorism, including the government of the United States," Mr Nazarov told journalists on the margins of a conference.
But he said he had received no formal request for assistance from Washington.
Iran has sent a message to the US via Canada saying it will not oppose targeted military strikes against those believed responsible for last week's deadly attacks in the US, a Canadian newspaper said yesterday.
If true, the report would indicate a significant change in the position of Iran, where supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday officially condemned the attacks but said punishing Afghanistan might cause a human catastrophe.
The National Post daily said senior Iranian officials had contacted the Canadian Foreign Minister, Mr John Manley, and asked him to pass on the message to Washington.
