U.S. DRUG FLIGHTS TO RESUME IN COLOMBIA

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Colin Powell has approved the
resumption of U.S. surveillance flights over Colombia, which then
guide Colombian air force jets to drug planes that can be shot down,
after a two-year suspension imposed when a plane carrying American
missionaries was mistakenly shot down, a U.S. official said Tuesday.

The official said the White House is expected to announce the
resumption of the drug surveillance flights Thursday, when President
Alvaro Uribe observes his first anniversary in office.

Uribe has advocated a strong stand against drug traffickers.

''The memo went out last night,'' said the official, referring to
Powell's recommendation. The process took far longer than expected as
officials attempted to put safeguards in place that will minimize the
possibility of a repeat of the tragedy of two years ago.

At the time, surveillance flights were conducted over Peru and
Colombia.

They were suspended in April 2001 after a Peruvian fighter jet acting
on U.S intelligence shot down the ill-fated flight, killing U.S.
missionary Veronica Bowers and her daughter Charity.

U.S. government and congressional investigations said many factors
contributed to the mistake, including a failure to follow established
procedures, inadequate Peruvian air control and inadequate foreign
language skills by Peruvians and Americans.

New procedures will be clearer for identifying and communicating with
suspected planes and establishing a chain of command for making the
decision to fire on a plane. Colombians would make the final decision.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan, who is with President Bush in
Crawford, Texas, said an inter-agency process has helped develop
procedures to enhance safety.

''The president's overriding concern is to support our allies in
Colombia to address the threat to their national security posed by
illegal drug trafficking while ensuring that procedures are in place
to protect innocent life,'' McClellan said.

Other officials have said no agreement is expected soon to resume
flights over Peru, which lacks radar and aircraft needed for the program.