Fed: Marshals on international flights by Xmas, says Anderson
By Rosemary Desmond
BRISBANE, Aug 1 AAP - Armed air marshals could be operating on international flightsout of Australia by Christmas, Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson said today.
The federal government yesterday revealed it was negotiating with the US and Singaporeto introduce sky marshals on international flights, extending current arrangements wherearmed security guards are posted randomly on flights within Australia.
Mr Anderson said he expected the system to be expanded to international flights bythe end of the year.
"Internationally, that is my expectation," Mr Anderson told reporters in Brisbane.
Justice Minister Chris Ellison met US officials in Washington last week to discussplans for international sky marshals.
Domestic sky marshals have been flying for 18 months.
Australia has been warned by the US it is a possible point of origin for hijacked planeswhich could be used for September 11 style attacks.
Meanwhile, Mr Anderson said tourism executives had reported signs of airline passengernumbers starting to recover after the outbreak of the SARS virus earlier this year.
"Broadly speaking, all these people are confident we have security in hand," he said.
AAP rad/sc/ldj/jlw
KEYWORD: TERROR MARSHALS ANDERSON
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