Global flights to be armed

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government announced Monday that it will require foreign airlines to place armed air marshals aboard certain international flights entering U.S. airspace when intelligence officials deem it necessary to combat terrorist hijackings.

Meanwhile, the U.S. orange alert will stay in effect through the holidays and possibly beyond, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said. The Bush administration raised the terrorism alert level to orange, or "high," on Dec. 21 from yellow, or "elevated risk."

The Department of Homeland Security said international law allows it to require selected foreign passenger and cargo carriers to put armed law enforcement agents or undercover air marshals aboard flights bound for, leaving from or flying over the United States.

The agency said it has the authority to impose such demands under international aviation laws that allow nations to set conditions by which foreign carriers enter their air space. U.S. officials acknowledged that many nations do not have air marshal programs but said those countries could meet the requirement by putting other trained law enforcement officials aboard.

Officials also said they would take diplomatic steps to share intelligence about terrorist threats before taking dramatic actions, such as revoking landing rights, if requests for air marshals are denied.

Many international airlines said Monday they would cooperate with the new U.S. requirement. Others, including airlines in Canada and Germany, said they already were using armed marshals on some flights.

Britain has declared its willingness to deploy sky marshals, and Aeroflot in Russia and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines sasid they were willing to cooperate.

French Transport Ministry spokesman Olivier Mousson did not say whether France would conform to the request, but said, "The French and the Americans cooperate totally in the struggle against terrorism. We work hand-in-hand."