The Madrid bombings have prompted the Taoiseach to seek EU-wide support for the immediate implementation of a clause contained in the draft European Union constitution that would commit all member-states to help each other in response to terrorist threats.
The Irish EU presidency has also called an emergency meeting of EU justice and interior ministers for Friday to fast-track a series of anti-terrorism measures in the aftermath of the Madrid atrocity which claimed 200 lives and wounded some 1,500.
The heightened tension in Europe was reinforced last night when UK police said four suspicious packages had been sent to "diplomatic premises" in London, including one sent to the Saudi embassy containing white powder.
Earlier yesterday, Mr Ahern said he was not considering such a meeting, which had been sought by France and Germany in the aftermath of the Madrid bomb attacks. However, a presidency spokesman said that senior Government officials in Brussels had advised by the afternoon that such a meeting was needed to ensure speedy agreement on a broad range of measures.
The proposed commitment of all EU member-states to assist other member-states threatened by terrorism is contained in the "solidarity clause" of the draft EU constitution. While the constitution has yet to be agreed, a political commitment to invoking the clause now would be seen as sending a strong signal of mutual EU solidarity.
At 11 a.m. yesterday, Mr Ahern led Europeans in observing three minutes of silence to mark the bombings. The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, was last night making arrangements to return a day early from a St Patrick's week visit to South Africa to chair Friday's meeting in Brussels. That meeting will consider a range of measures, including the appointment of an EU security co-ordinator, enhanced airport security and exchange of information between police agencies.
Spain's prime minister-elect, Mr Jose Luis Zapatero, gave an early signal that President Bush has lost an important ally in Europe. Referring to what he called the disastrous occupation of Iraq, Mr Zapatero indicated that he would adhere to his pre-election promise and pull Spain's 1,300 troops out of the country by July 1st.
Although President Bush telephoned Mr Zapatero (43) to congratulate him and the White House said he "looked forward" to working with the new prime minister, Mr Zapatero did not mince his words about Mr Bush or his main European ally, Mr Tony Blair.
"Mr Blair and Mr Bush must do some reflection and self-criticism ... you can't organise a war with lies," he said in a lengthy interview with Spain's Cadena SER radio station.
"The war has been a disaster, the occupation continues to be a disaster," he said.
Mr Zapatero said his immediate priorities would be "fighting terrorism" - last night the government announced a meeting in Madrid of EU anti-terrorist agencies - and a more "pro-European" foreign policy. He said he wanted "cordial" ties with Washington but used the word "magnificent" to describe the relations he sought with France, Germany and other EU members.
With almost all votes counted, the socialist party had won 42.6 per cent of the vote to the defeated Popular Party's 37.6 per cent. With 164 seats in the lower house of parliament, 12 short of an absolute majority, Mr Zapatero has said he intends to govern through dialogue with other groups. He ruled out the possibility of a coalition with regional parties.
