HONDURAS TO ALLOW U.S. DRUG AGENTS SEARCH ITS WATERS

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, - The United States and
Honduras will sign a deal next week allowing U.S. drug agents to
search suspicious boats in Honduran waters, officials said on Tuesday.

The bilateral treaty on fighting drug trafficking, which has been
negotiated for months, will be signed in the Honduran capital on
March 9 during U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit, Foreign Relations
Minister Roberto Flores told reporters.

The minister said the treaty would allow U.S. drug agents to act in
joint operations with Honduran agents.

"The Honduran authorities will authorise the operations through a
special office," he said.

Air, water and land routes through Central America and Mexico are
favourite ways to transport cocaine from South America to the United
States.

Clinton will meet with Honduran President Carlos Flores during a
five-hour stop in the Central American nation that was hard hit by
deadly Hurricane Mitch when the storm ravaged the region in October
and November last year.