After the mourning, America goes on war footing with troop call-up

President Bush took a step closer to war by giving the Pentagon authority to mobilise 50,000 reservists after Tuesday's suicide attacks on Washington and New York.

Congress gave him unanimous bipartisan backing to use force to stamp out terrorism, and approved the release of an emergency $40bn (£27bn) fund to help to reconstruct New York and strengthen security.

The Pentagon is activating 50,000 reservists to help to beef up the protection of airports and other installations around the country, and provide medical and engineering support for the massive rescue and reconstruction effort under way in Manhattan and Washington.

The Senate approved by 96-0 and 98-0 measures to provide the $40bn of federal assistance – double the sum Mr Bush had originally asked for – and authorise force for the war the President has declared on terrorism across the world.

As America geared up for retaliation against the atrocities, the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan vowed to hit back if the country came under attack for harbouring the Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, who has been identified as a prime suspect in the terror attacks. "We will take revenge if America attacks, through different means," the Taliban's chief spokesman, Abdul Hai Mutamaen, said in Kabul.

Mr Bush later addressed a multidenominational prayer service in Washington's national cathedral, before flying to New York to inspect the damage at first hand and offer his support. "The fight against terrorism is now the focus of my administration," he said.

With America still gripped by fear and anger, life was only slowly regaining a semblance of normality. There was a partial resumption of internal flights, but services into the US by most international airlines were still suspended.

In Britain the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, suggested that a national identity card system might be introduced in response to the attacks on America, while the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, confirmed that talks were under way across Europe to tighten extradition laws and combat terrorist groups' activities.

The US Justice Department released the names of the 19 hijackers – not 18 as previously announced – who seized the four aircraft. All are of Middle Eastern origin, some with names native to southern Saudi Arabia and Yemen, where Mr bin Laden originated.

Washington formally requested permission from Pakistan to overfly its territory if necessary to strike at Afghan-istan, where Mr bin Laden is thought to be hiding.