Argentina tightens security for regional summit
Argentina said Wednesday that all unauthorized aircraft entering its restricted air space during the Summit of the Americas to be held next month will be shot down.

Cabinet Chief Alberto Fernandez ruled out the possibility of an imminent air attack on the summit, but said the country has been making every effort to tighten security, including air-surveillance with radar.

It is necessary to develop a defense strategy just in case an aircraft intrudes into the restricted area with a hostile end, Fernandez said Wednesday.

Regional leaders, including US President George W. Bush will attend the 4th Summit of the Americas scheduled to be held on Nov.4-5 in the city of Mar del Plata, 400 km southeast of the capital.

Diplomats said the controversy on the authorization to shoot down the planes has become an issue in the electoral process in Argentina.

Local daily Clarin on Monday quoted an Argentine military authority as saying the United States will help Argentina deploy six to eight missiles in Tandil, a city 160 km west of Mar del Plata.

The report said Argentine President Nestor Kirchner had promised to Washington that any hostile plane breaking into the restricted air space would be shot down during the summit.

Police said last Friday that they discovered a locker at a Buenos Aires bus station containing old grenades, a copy of the Koran and maps of Mar del Plata. But officials believe the objects were a hoax played by pranksters who made an anonymous call to police.

Attacks against the Israeli Embassy in 1992 and a Jewish community center in 1994 left more than 100 people dead in Argentina.

Argentina and Israel both blamed the attacks on Hizbollah guerrillas backed by Iran, which has repeatedly denied involvement.