WE have all been horrified by the atrocities on September 11, and many families in the UK have lost loved ones.

However, I'm pleased to see several readers urging caution about our natural urge to charge after the most likely suspects with all guns blazing.

After the Second World War the Allies put the Nazi leadership on trial; recently we have co-operated in the indictment of Yugoslav war criminals at the tribunal in the Hague and those accused of the Lockerbie crash were tried under Scottish law at Camp Zeist.

Similarly, now we should draw up an internationally-agreed arrest warrant. The legal framework exists, extradition can be requested, military force can be used if diplomacy fails.

The same outcome could result, but in a context of law enforcement rather than "might is right".

This should help in the slow process of establishing a world order in which murderous regimes and terrorist groups are dealt with by international policing.

We may look back in years to come and bitterly regret rushing in, however awful the crime and however defiant the Taliban.

Michael Cadoux,

Church Street, Bubwith.

Updated: 10:17 Thursday, September 27, 2001