EUROPEAN governments came out in support of the strikes on Afghanistan but elsewhere in the world there were signs that the international alliance was beginning to crack.

Iran, which had previously given backing to the coalition, protested that the 'vast US attacks' were 'unacceptable''.

Iranian President Mohammed Khatami had earlier suggested he wanted to rebuild relations with the West following the September 11 outrages, but the country's foreign ministry denounced the strikes, the national news agency IRNA reported.

In Pakistan, the only country to maintain diplomatic links with the Taliban regime, the government remained supportive of the military action, but several influential Muslim clerics called them an assault on Islam and grounds for a holy war.

Malaysia, which has a predominantly Muslim population, denounced the attacks as an "act of war" despite the fact its premier Mahathir Mohamad had previously agreed to support the coalition.

Iraq described the missile attacks and air raids as "treacherous aggression".

But most countries, including all those in Europe, came out in support of the military strikes.

Israel supported them as "the right and courageous decision".

France and Canada confirmed that their forces would participate in future military action, while German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder promised Bush his country's "unlimited solidarity".

Shoring up the international coalition has required hard work.

Barely 24 hours before the attacks began, Prime Minister Tony Blair returned from a second gruelling round of shuttle diplomacy during which he clocked up thousands of miles.

United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also launched a diplomatic offensive in the days leading up to the first attacks, visiting the wavering desert kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where fears of a fundamentalist backlash are thought to have been behind a softening of support for action.

Despite some setbacks, the two allies built an unprecedented coalition as countries from around the world rallied behind the call for a war on terrorism.

The diplomatic offensive ensured that if Afghanistan refused to hand over prime suspect Osama bin Laden, they would face America's wrath effectively alone.

Nato involvement was guaranteed when ambassadors from the 19 member nations invoked Article Five of the organisation's Charter, declaring the attack on America to be an attack on the Alliance as a whole.

However, the sustained diplomatic effort secured support for military action stretching far beyond the long-standing transatlantic alliance.

Russia - having seen the former Soviet Union's own ill-fated war in Afghanistan - ruled out committing troops but is thought to have helped US intelligence services in their searched for bin Laden.

China, the major power most likely to speak out against the American plans, instead said it would support the fight against terrorism and voiced only limited reservations, warning military action could prove counter-productive.

Sustained pressure from the US brought about a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians - helping to isolate Afghanistan's ruling Taliban from potential Arab allies.

Keen not to be seen as frustrating the US efforts, both offered support for President Bush's war.

Uzbekistan, which borders Afghanistan, offered to act as a base for American troops.

Neighbouring Tajikistan ruled out allowing ground attacks but said air corridors were a possibility.

India's enthusiastic offer to commit troops was politely declined for fear of disturbing the sensitive relationship with Pakistan, as it negotiated with the Taliban.

Despite the grave internal problems thrown up by co-operating with the US, Pakistan's military government was under no illusions that if it failed to assist it would be treated as the terrorists' ally.

Even so-called rogue states accused of sponsoring terrorism joined the coalition, as Syria condemned the "barbarism" of the jetliner attacks while Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi said President Bush was right to hit back.

The United Arab Emirates, one of just three countries to recognise the Taliban, said it was reviewing its relations with Afghanistan's rulers.