Front Page

Front Page

Gas masks for US embassy here
By Nilika Kasturisinghe
As the Bush administration gave the final deadline for war against Iraq, the US embassy here has brought down gas masks for its staff as a precaution against any possible chemical or biological attack.

Embassy spokesman Bruce A. Lohof said US embassies worldwide were taking special security measures and the procedure to face possible chemical or biological attack was not confined to Sri Lanka. The embassy staff in Colombo recently participated in a drill trying out the equipment.

Meanwhile U.S. President George W. Bush yesterday stepped up pressure on reluctant U.N. Security Council members to set a March 17 deadline for Iraq to disarm or face military action, digging in for what may be a losing diplomatic battle.

The US, Britain and Spain have proposed a new U.N. resolution that sets a March 17 ultimatum for Iraq to comply fully with disarmament demands. See page 16 for full story.

Back to Front Page