Pubdate: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 Source: BBC News (UK Web) Copyright: 2001 BBC Contact: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/ Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558 BRAZIL TO SHOOT DOWN ILLEGAL PLANES The Brazilian president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, has said he would authorize the shooting down of planes involved in terrorism, smuggling or drug trafficking. Mr Cardoso was speaking during a visit to the border with Colombia, a region where illegal airplanes have been involved in several incidents in the last years. A law approved by the Congress in 1998 allows the armed forces to shoot down airplanes within Brazilian airspace. But it needs further legislation before it can be implemented. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh