PRIME Minster Tony Blair has warned the war against terrorism will not end when Osama bin Laden's Al Qaida network is brought down.

In a powerful speech at the emergency of recall of Parliament, he said the British people should be prepared for a "long haul".

And he indicated the military action could be extended from Afghanistan to other countries which harbour terrorist groups.

Speaking as Western forces bombarded Taliban and Al Qaida military targets for a second night, Mr Blair said: "We are in this for the long haul.

"Even when Al Qaida is dealt with, the job is not over. The network of international terrorism is not confined to it."

A defiant Mr Blair stated the West did not seek the conflict - but would now not stop until it was victorious in the "just war" against terrorism.

"We do not lightly go to fight. We are, all of us - the nations involved in this action peaceful peoples who prefer to live in peace.

"But a desire to live in peace should never be interpreted as weakness by those who attack us. "If attacked, we will respond; we will defend ourselves; and our very reluctance to use force means that when we do, we do so with complete determination that it shall prevail.

"It is why we will continue to act, with steadfast resolve, to see this struggle through to the end and to the victory that would mark the victory not of revenge - but of justice over terrorism."

Mr Blair warned the Taliban would be eager to spread "false propaganda". He added: "Already their lie machine is putting out false claims about U.S. planes being shot down. There will be much more of this kind of thing.

"And of course they lie about our motivation. We know their aim. It is to foment conflict between Islam and the West; It is to present themselves as champions of the Muslim world against the USA. It is to say we are anti-Islam.

"This is a lie. let us expose it once and for all. We are in conflict with bin Laden and the Taliban regime because the terrorists killed thousands of innocent people, including hundreds of Muslims and women and children; and because the Taliban regime in return for financial and other support give them succour."

But, he said, the propaganda was not working.

Updated: 11:40 Tuesday, October 09, 2001