MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“War on terrorism” emissary .

A high Foreign Office official visited Buenos Aires and Montevideo this week to emphasize to regional governments the importance of keeping a strong coalition in the war on terrorism.

Russell Baker from the Southern Cone Section in the Latinamerica and Caribbean Department with responsibility over Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile told the local press in Montevideo that "United States and the United Kingdom need the most support possible, because something must be done to finish terrorism".

"It's a difficult diplomatic task to get all countries to act jointly, and particularly keeping the international consensus", indicated the Foreign Office official. Mr. Baker said that the targets of the current operation are very clear, "dismantling terrorist camps and taking Mr. Bin Laden to Justice".

Further on Mr. Baker indicated "we feel all governments must be involved in this war, but we've come to listen and to understand, and we also want to be listened and understood. It's our job, the alliance's job, to explain what is going on and maybe add countries that can make a more specific contribution". However Mr. Baker avoided describing "specific contribution". Mr. Baker explained that all US-UK actions so far have been understood by the United Nations and supported in the Security Council.

During his brief visit to Montevideo Mr. Baker met with officials from Uruguay's Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mercosur Secretariat and the main local human rights group.Mercosur as a group, and its members individually, have given their full support to war on terrorism, although they would prefer military actions and involvement under an official United Nations umbrella.

Almost in coincidence with Mr. Baker's visit, the US State Department announced in Washington US intelligence had sufficient evidence to believe Bin Laden activists could have operated and may be "dormant" in Ciudad del Este, in the border area between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.

A numerous Middle East community lives in Ciudad del Este which has a strong smuggling reputation and is involved in arms and drugs dealings, making it an intelligence target for several countries.