FOREIGN Secretary Jack Straw today insisted the British public had the "stomach" for a long war against terrorism.

Mr Straw said Britain's reaction after the New York and Washington terror attacks was "instinctive in support of our brothers and sisters in the US".

Speaking at RAF Northolt in west London, Mr Straw also justified Britain's involvement in the military campaign against the Taliban.

He said: "The British people have seen the most appalling evil from the al-Qaeda organisation and the slaughter of thousands of innocent people of all faiths. We have to deal with that."