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Kenya anger as US cancels flights | Kenya anger as US cancels flights |
(10 minutes later) | |
Kenya has protested to the US over the abrupt move to cancel new commercial flights between the two countries, apparently due to security concerns. | Kenya has protested to the US over the abrupt move to cancel new commercial flights between the two countries, apparently due to security concerns. |
A Delta Airlines service from Atlanta to Nairobi, the first direct service between the US and Kenya for 20 years, was called off on Tuesday. | A Delta Airlines service from Atlanta to Nairobi, the first direct service between the US and Kenya for 20 years, was called off on Tuesday. |
The Kenyan foreign ministry summoned US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger to demand an explanation. | The Kenyan foreign ministry summoned US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger to demand an explanation. |
Kenyan officials said US security concerns had previously been addressed. | Kenyan officials said US security concerns had previously been addressed. |
The US Department for Homeland Security is said to have taken the decision because of "security vulnerabilities" in Nairobi. | The US Department for Homeland Security is said to have taken the decision because of "security vulnerabilities" in Nairobi. |
It amounts to a travel advisory against the country [Kenya] Moses WetangulaForeign Minister | It amounts to a travel advisory against the country [Kenya] Moses WetangulaForeign Minister |
Delta had planned to run the new service four times a week from Wednesday until US officials intervened on the eve of its launch. | Delta had planned to run the new service four times a week from Wednesday until US officials intervened on the eve of its launch. |
Mr Ranneberger told AFP news agency: "This is a postponement and we are hoping to get this back on track soon but I cannot confirm when." | Mr Ranneberger told AFP news agency: "This is a postponement and we are hoping to get this back on track soon but I cannot confirm when." |
But Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula said the move would dampen prospects of a recovery of the tourism sector. | But Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula said the move would dampen prospects of a recovery of the tourism sector. |
"It amounts to a travel advisory against the country [Kenya]," he told Reuters news agency before meeting Mr Ranneberger. | "It amounts to a travel advisory against the country [Kenya]," he told Reuters news agency before meeting Mr Ranneberger. |
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, also blocked Delta flights to Liberia's capital Monrovia, but cleared a new route to Nigeria's capital Abuja. | The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, also blocked Delta flights to Liberia's capital Monrovia, but cleared a new route to Nigeria's capital Abuja. |
Kenya has twice been hit by terror attacks and has a long border with Somalia, where Islamist militants accused of links to al-Qaeda are battling a weak, UN-backed government. | |
After an Israeli-owned hotel was attacked near Mombasa in 2002, the US and UK issued warnings against travel to Kenya which devastated the country's tourism industry. |
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