By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- The new U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, John Negroponte, informed the UN Security Council October 8 that the United States was beginning "the military phase of a multi-faceted and comprehensive effort against international terrorism" with military action against the al-Qaeda terrorist camps and Taliban military installations in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Ambassador said that "in carrying out these missions we are committed to minimizing civilian casualties and damage to civilian property." He also stressed that the military attacks are "in no way...a campaign directed against Islam or the Arab world."

Negroponte, and UK Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock, briefed the Council on the U.S. offensive that had begun the day before, on Sunday, October 7. The two envoys also sent letters to the President of the Council, Ambassador Richard Ryan of Ireland, informing the Council that the United States, together with other states, had initiated actions in the exercise of its inherent right of individual and collective self-defense as a result of the September 11 attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.

Talking with journalists after the private Council meeting, Negroponte said that the United States and others who are involved in the military action "continue to enjoy strong understanding of the actions we have taken and have, I think, a clear understanding that we are acting in our inherent right of self-defense."

Negroponte told the Security Council that the U.S. remains committed to bringing humanitarian relief to the Afghan people.

"We are dropping food and medical supplies inside Afghanistan. We have also, as President Bush announced on the 4th of October, significantly augmented the funds that we are donating to Afghan relief," the U.S. Ambassador said.

Security Council President Ryan read a statement to the press summarizing the Council's position.

That statement, Ryan said, shows that the unanimity of the Council that characterized the two terrorism resolutions passed since the September 11 attacks "is absolutely maintained."

"I might recall that the Security Council reacted to the attacks of 11 September first through resolution 1368 and then through resolution 1373 which took direct aim at the financing and support of international terrorism. The members of the Council are determined to see the full implementation of these resolutions," Ryan said.

He said that "the members of the Security Council took note of the letters of the representatives of the United States and the United Kingdom sent yesterday to the President of the Security Council in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter in which they state that the action was taken in accordance with the inherent right of the individual and collective self-defense following the terrorist attacks in the United States."

"The Permanent Representatives made it clear that the military action that commenced on 7 October was taken in self-defense and directed at terrorists and those who harbor them," he said. "They stressed that every effort was being made to avoid civilian casualties and that the action was in no way a strike against the people of Afghanistan, Islam, or the Muslim world."

"The members of the Council were appreciative of the presentations made by the United States and the United Kingdom," said Ryan.

Ryan said the Council is deeply concerned at the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and "expressed appreciation for the humanitarian assistance being offered by many countries."

At the beginning of October the Security Council had scheduled weekly meetings on Afghanistan and that schedule remains, Ryan said. The Council is also holding a further discussion of the humanitarian situation in the country and the Afghan refugees October 9.