U.S. Denies Breaking British Air Transport Rules
Shaveta Bansal - All Headline News Staff Writer Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The United States on Thursday denied that it had broken British air transport procedures following several complaints from London, criticizing U.S. for using a Scottish airport for transferring bombs to Israel. The statement came as Britain's Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett criticized the move and threatened a formal protest after raising the matter with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. With British Prime Minister Tony Blair due to visit Washington this weekend, the reports of the U.S. using a British airport are seen as a cause of a possible rift between the two countries. Meanwhile, The Evening Standard newspaper said that Britain had agreed to allow Washington to fly more weapons to Israel via its airports. Tony Blair has already gathered criticism both from home and abroad for his backing of President Bush's view of a "sustainable" ceasefire in Lebanon instead of an immediate halt of carnage called by other world leaders. After a Lebanon crisis meeting in Rome on Wednesday, Beckett said, "We have already let the United States know that this is an issue that appears to be seriously at fault, and we will be making a formal protest if it appears that that is what has happened." According to the published reports, two Airbus cargo jets loaded with U.S. bunker-busting bombs landed at Prestwick airport for refueling and crew rest. |
