EU calls emergency meet for anti-terror talks

Ireland, which has bumped terrorism onto the agenda of an EU summit next week, set out key proposals also including implementing an all-for-one solidarity clause as it called the ministerial talks for Friday.

"We stand in solidarity with the Spanish people and pledge ourselves to combat all forms of terrorism within our power," Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said in a statement.

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The announcement came as calls intensified for Europe to boost joint measures to fight terrorism in the wake of the Madrid attacks, which killed 200 people and left 1,500 injured.

The Spanish massacre, and in particular an Al-Qaeda claim of responsibility, has revived fears in Europe of attacks on the scale of the September 2001 attacks in the United States.

An Irish spokesman said Friday's ministerial talks would prepare the ground for regular EU foreign ministers' meeting next Monday, ahead of the EU summit Thursday and Friday next week.

Measures proposed by Dublin include:

-- implementing a solidarity clause included in a draft EU constitution, requiring EU countries "to come to the assistance of each other in response to new threats, arising from terrorist and non-state entities."

-- adopting a revised "strategy plan" on terrorism. The EU originally agreed an action plan in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

-- appointing a "security coordinator" to improve cooperation between the EU and other countries, and to streamline counter-terrorism initiatives.

-- boosting cooperation among EU intelligence services.

-- improving coordination with the United Nations in fighting terrorism.

-- clamping down on extremists' funding. This would involve tightening up measures already agreed in September 2001.

The Irish announcement came after European countries, at Dublin's behest, paid tribute to the victims of the Madrid blasts in a continent-wide three-minute silence on the stroke of midday Monday.

The Irish premier added: "The callous and cowardly attacks on 11 March served as a terrible reminder of the threat posed by terrorism to our society.

"We condemn utterly those who planted the bombs that wrought such destruction and cost so many lives last Thursday. The attacks in Madrid were an attack against the very values on which the Union is founded."