Prime Minister Blair speech
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Blair's statement in full
This is the full text of Tony Blair's statement to
the TUC conference on Tuesday afternoon:
"There have been the most terrible, shocking events
taking place in the United States of America within the
last hour or so, including two hijacked planes being
flown deliberately into the World Trade Center.
"I'm afraid we can only
imagine the terror and the
carnage there, and the
many, many innocent
people that will have lost
their lives.
"I know that you would
want to join with me in
sending the deepest
condolences to President Bush and to the American
people on behalf of the British people at these terrible
events.
"This mass terrorism is the new evil in our world today.
It is perpetrated by fanatics who are utterly indifferent
to the sanctity of human life and we, the democracies
of this world, are going to have to come together to
fight it together and eradicate this evil completely from
our world.
"Delegates, I hope you will understand that I don't
believe it would be appropriate to carry on with the
speech I was going to give you today.
"I know I have issued copies of the speech, we will
make sure all delegates get copies of the speech but I
think inappropriate to give that speech now, here.
"I will obviously want to carry on the discussion we
have had about this issues that concern us.
"I will now return to London and once again I thank
you for your indulgence here.
"I am very, very sorry it has worked out the way it has
but I know that you would want to join with me in
offering our deepest sympathy to the American people
and our absolute shock and outrage at what has
happened."