When reached at his new residence at 24 Sussex drive in Ottawa, Canada (the traditional residence of all Canadian Prime Ministers) newly elected Prime Minister Stephen Harper had this to say on the matter:

" I would like to thank the President of the United States for taking the time to phone me this morning to give me his personal assurance that all steps would be taken to ensure minimal loss of civilian life during this raid. Knowing that his concern for the well-being of the citizens of this great country was equal to mine was truly heartening.

It just shows you what good can come of having convivial relations with your neighbours. Unlike my predecessors who maintained a hostile attitude towards the American president, I'm sure this new spirit of accommodation on the part of my government will go a long way towards healing the rifts that may have developed between our two great nations.

It was in that spirit that I approved this raid without hesitation. It is time that Canadians shouldered more of their share in the War on Terror, and proved their willingness to lay down their lives for freedom just as our neighbours to the south have done.

I would like to take this moment to extend my condolences to those families who may have lost a loved one during this raid. The technology available to the American fighting forces is second to none, but even it's unable to guarantee the sanctity of life for those living in the vicinity of a bombing raid.

It is my intention to visit the site as soon as I've been advised that the area has been cleared of any potential hazards and is safe for civilians. I wouldn't want to interfere in the work of the military. Thank you very much"

Initial reports from the scene are sketchy because emergency crews have been unable to reach the site due to the intense heat of ongoing fires. They do know that the three- or four-block radius that was struck was primarily residential, and made up of families.

What strikes City of Toronto officials as especially odd is that Al Queada members picked a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood for their sleeper cell. All they can assume is that the members were working as domestics in the various households, because all the buildings in the area were high-end, single-family dwellings.

As the day progresses we hope to provide you with further details as they come available.