WASHINGTON (AFX) - The US government is not yet ready to lift its 'code red' top security alerts on incoming flights from Britain in the wake of the alleged foiled British bombing plot, US Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff said.
However, he also said the government was 'unlikely' to institute a complete prohibition on carry-on luggage as it tightens airline security in the wake of the exposed plot, which Chertoff said bore the 'hallmarks' of Al-Qaeda.
With the US Transportation Security Administration slated today to further detail rules about airport security, Chertoff spoke in several television interviews about the continuing need for high security levels in US airports after the alleged terror plot was exposed.
'The main elements of the plot have been scooped up. We don't know, however, if there are some lines that lead into pockets that have not yet been arrested,' he said on NBC television.
On Thursday British authorities arrested two dozen men suspected of plotting to smuggle volatile chemicals onto several flights headed for the US with the intent to explode them in mid-flight.
Chertoff said on ABC television that the Transportation Security Administration would announce today 'finer restrictions' on passengers boarding aircraft in the US after a sweeping crackdown in the wake of the plot.
'I do not see us moving to a total ban on hand baggage at this point,' however, he said.
'We think that with the means we have regarding liquids, with the training we've given (for) screening and with the tools we have, we're capable of protecting the airlines without the measure that would so inconvenience people of preventing from bringing anything' onto the aircraft, Chertoff said.
Yesterday, TSA detailed the tighter rules on passengers boarding aircraft in the US, saying no liquids or gels could be taken on except limited amounts of baby milk, personal prescription medicine and personal insulin and other non-prescription medications.
But TSA continued to allow passengers to take on board luggage and personal electronics devices like music players, which British authorities have been screening from planes, suspecting they could be used as bomb detonation devices. newsdesk@afxnews.com afp/cml COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited