FRANCE: France is looking for a suspect sought by the United States over an aviation scare that forced a spate of cancellations and delays to US-bound flights.
Fears of more September 11th -style attacks on the United States have prompted Washington to impose new security measures, including a demand that foreign airlines carry armed marshals.
Some companies have ruled out air marshals but several European governments have agreed to comply and others are studying the issue. Ireland, as European Union President, wants EU aviation chiefs to discuss the issue next week.
Despite the fresh jitters, European airline stocks surged as strong traffic and earnings figures from British Airways offered signs that passenger safety worries were easing.
A judicial source said France's DST state security office was searching for an Afghan listed in the United States as a terrorist and suspected of preparing an attack against a cancelled December 24th flight from Paris to Los Angeles.
"I confirm that we are looking for someone. I cannot tell you anything more," French justice minister Mr Dominique Perben told RMC radio.
The US television channel ABC reported on Tuesday that the man, a passenger who failed to show up for the flight, was suspected of links to the militant al- Qaeda network and might have a small bomb to attack planes.
The French judicial source, who requested anonymity, gave the name of the suspect as Abdu Hai.
The source said his name did not appear on French files of suspects and that a formal anti-terrorist probe had not been launched for the time being.
There was no immediate word on his possible whereabouts. ABC said the suspect had a French passport and his details had been passed on to security officials at London's Heathrow Airport.
In Washington, a CIA spokesman dismissed the ABC report.
A US law enforcement official dismissed the idea that the suspect was Afghan, saying: "That's definitely not right."
Several transatlantic flights have been delayed or cancelled in recent days. With new security alarms seen as inevitable, authorities are under pressure to protect airlines from attacks.
- (Reuters)