PERMISSION IS GRANTED FOR U.S. DRUG PURSUIT

PARAMARIBO -- Suriname has signed an agreement to allow U.S. forces to
pursue smuggling suspects into Suriname's territorial waters.

The United States has reached similar agreements with other Caribbean
countries in an effort to strengthen its drug interdiction efforts, but
Suriname was reluctant to sign the accord for fear it would infringe upon
its sovereignty.

Other Caribbean countries have criticized the United States for pressing
for the so-called ship-rider agreements while ignoring the other problems
of the region's small nations, including the economic conditions that
encourage smuggling.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski