Demands: Bush

President Bush has delivered his address to the American people delivering an ultimatum to the rulers of Afghanistan to "immediately" hand over all the terrorists within its borders.

In his speech to both houses of Congress, he said that the Taliban faced a stark choice - accept America's demands or face the consequences.

"The United States respects the people of Afghanistan - after all, we are currently its largest source of humanitarian aid - but we condemn the Taliban regime. It is not only repressing its own people, it is threatening people everywhere by sponsoring and sheltering and supplying terrorists. By aiding and abetting murder, the Taliban regime is committing murder," the president said.

To applause from senators and congressmen, he listed what the Taliban had to do if it wanted to avoid retribution from the US government.

"Tonight, the United States of America makes the following demands on the Taliban: Deliver to United States authorities all the leaders of al Qaeda who hide in your land. Release all foreign nationals, including American citizens, you have unjustly imprisoned. Protect foreign journalists, diplomats and aid workers in your country. Close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan, and hand over every terrorist, and every person in their support structure, to appropriate authorities. Give the United States full access to terrorist training camps, so we can make sure they are no longer operating," he said.

Bush warned that the demands would not be open to compromise. "These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion. The Taliban must act, and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate," he said.

He also welcomed Tony Blair, who sat next to the president's wife to hear the address, after remembering the hundreds of British lives lost in the tragedy.

"America has no truer friend than Great Britain. Once again, we are joined together in a great cause - so honoured the British Prime Minister has crossed an ocean to show his unity of purpose with America. Thank you for coming, friend," he said.

In his closing remarks, Bush prepared the American people for a campaign that is likely to stretch into years rather than days.

"I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest; I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people. The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them," he said.