Bush rules out end to strikes during Ramadan
American President George W Bush tonight effectively ruled out a halt to the war in Afghanistan for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
There had been pressure for the coalition effort against the country’s ruling Taliban regime to halt air strikes and commando raids while the Muslim country observed the month of fasting which begins on November 17.
British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon had said that Muslim sensibilities should be ‘‘taken into consideration’’ during the feast.
But tonight Mr Bush, speaking after a meeting with the President of Nigeria which has a large Muslim population, said: ‘‘The enemy won’t rest during Ramadan and neither will we.
‘‘We are going to pursue this war till we achieve our objective.’’
And he dismissed claims that continuing military action would further alienate support for the American-led effort in the Islamic world.
‘‘This is not a political campaign - it is a war,’’ said Mr Bush.
During Ramadan Muslims do not eat from sunrise until sunset and observe a period of prayer which is regarded as the religion’s holiest time.
Mr Hoon had attempted to paper over the rift with America when he met his opposite number in Washington, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Mr Hoon had said there was ‘‘no difference’’ between his position and Mr Rumsfeld’s claim that there was no historical precedent for suspending action during Ramadan.
When the attacks began nearly four weeks ago Americans had initially scaled back their actions on Friday, the Muslim day of prayer, but in recent weeks have continued bombardment on Fridays unabated.
