Debris recovered from the Atlantic by Brazilian search teams does not come from a lost Air France jet, a Brazilian air force official has said.
Brig Ramon Borges Cardoso contradicted earlier reports that debris had been found, saying "no material from the plane has been recovered".
A wooden cargo pallet was taken from the sea, but the Airbus A330 had no wooden pallets on board.
Relatives have been told that there is no hope of survivors being found.
Air France chief executive Pierre-Henri Gourgeon and chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta briefed the passengers' relatives in a hotel near Paris Charles de Gaulle airport where they have been waiting for news.
Mr Gourgeon said the jet, which was carrying 228 people from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, broke apart either in the air or when it hit the sea.
"What is clear is that there was no landing," said a support group representative who was at the meeting, Guillaume Denoix de Saint-Marc. "There's no chance the escape slides came out."
In Rio de Janeiro, hundreds of people gathered at a memorial service attended by the French and Brazilian foreign ministers.
"Those who are missing are here in our hearts and in our memories," said the French minister, Bernard Kouchner.
A memorial service was held in Paris on Wednesday.
Oil slick
Brazilian navy vessels have been combing the area, about 1,100km (690 miles) north-east of Brazil's coast.
Three more Brazilian boats and a French ship equipped with small submarines are expected to arrive in the area in the next few days.
Brig Cardoso said that fuel found in the sea probably did come from the plane, because it was not of a type used in ships.
However he said a large oil slick photographed in the area was more likely to have come from a ship.
He said the search effort would continue, with the main focus on finding bodies, but bad weather is forecast for the region on Friday.
'Clock ticking'
French military spokesman Christophe Prazuck said the priority was looking for wreckage from the plane, before turning the search to flight data recorders.
"The clock is ticking on finding debris before they spread out and before they sink or disappear," he said.
French officials have said the recorders, which could be deep under water, may never be found.
Officials have warned that they are far from working out the cause of the crash.
Investigators are reported to be relying on a stream of automated messages sent out just before the crash, which suggested the plane's systems shut down as it flew through high thunderstorms.
Investigators have suggested that speed sensors failed or iced over, causing erroneous data to be fed to onboard computers. This might have caused the plane to fly too fast or too slowly through the storm, leading it either to break apart or stall and fall out of the sky.
A Spanish pilot flying in the area at the time of the crash was quoted by his airline, Air Comet, as saying he had seen an "intense flash of white light, which followed a descending and vertical trajectory and which broke up in six seconds".
The paper said Airbus, the maker of the plane, would issue A330 jets with new advice on flying in storms.
Airbus declined to comment on the report, though an unnamed official told AFP news agency that it was normal to update airlines following an accident.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
US presses China over Tiananmen
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged China to publicly account for those killed in the suppression of the Tiananmen Square protests 20 years ago.
Mrs Clinton said China should release those still held over the protests and stop harassing those who took part.
Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people died in the crackdown in Beijing, and open discussion of the events of 20 years ago remains taboo in China.
China has boosted security ahead of Thursday's anniversary of the killings.
Many dissidents say they have been told to leave Beijing or are confined to their homes.
Even in Hong Kong, where freedom of expression is guaranteed, some dissidents have been denied entry.
But Mrs Clinton said in a statement that the anniversary was a chance for China to "reflect upon the meaning of the events that preceded that day".
She said China "should examine openly the darker events of its past and provide a public accounting of those killed, detained or missing, both to learn and to heal."
"China can honour the memory of that day by moving to give the rule of law, protection of internationally-recognised human rights, and democratic development the same priority as it has given to economic reform," she added.
Turned away
The statement represents a tougher line than the Obama administration has taken so far when addressing China's human rights record, the BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from Washington.
She says Mrs Clinton had disappointed activists at the start of her tenure by saying human rights should not interfere in discussions with China about other issues, like climate change and North Korea.
The Chinese Communist Party has never held an official inquiry into what happened in and around the square 20 years ago, and discussion of the issue is banned on the mainland.
Earlier on Wednesday, Xiang Xiaoji, now a US citizen, was trying to come to Hong Kong on Wednesday to join commemorative events being held to mark the anniversary. But he was refused entry and returned to New York.
Another prominent protest leader, Wu'er Kaixi, flew from his home in Taiwan to Macau on Wednesday, but was detained on arrival.
Mr Kaixi told reporters that he had wanted to go from Macau into mainland China, to see his parents.
Tiananmen Mothers
On the eve of the anniversary, police have been examining visitors at checkpoints dotted around Tiananmen Square, and checking the bags and papers of people in the area.
Some journalists say they have been turned away from the site.
Ding Zilin, the head of a group called Tiananmen Mothers - made up of women whose children were shot dead in the crackdown - has reportedly been blocked from leaving her home, as has the wife of jailed dissident Hu Jia.
Bao Tong - a former official who was purged for sympathising with the Tiananmen protesters - was escorted out of Beijing last week.
In the run-up to the anniversary, the authorities are also blocking social networking sites such as Twitter and Flickr.
Even the architect of Beijing's Bird's Nest Olympic stadium, Ai Weiwei, says his blogs have been blocked.
"Three of my blogs have all been shut down," he told the BBC. "I don't know the exact reason, but I can sense it's about the coming-up anniversary."
Influence from Beijing?
In Hong Kong, too, there is evidence of pre-anniversary sensitivities.
While one exiled Tiananmen leader, Xiong Yan, was allowed into Hong Kong at the weekend, another student leader, Xiang Xiaoji, and a Danish sculptor who made a statue entitled Pillar of Shame were both denied entry.
As a former British colony, Hong Kong is guaranteed autonomy and freedom of expression by the Chinese, but bans on Mr Xiang and others are adding to a growing sense of unease over how solid the territory's rights record really is.
According to the BBC's Vaudine England in Hong Kong, the ruling elite of Beijing-appointed civil servants and powerful business figures believes closeness to Beijing is the only guarantee of survival.
Yet the majority of Hong Kong
Mrs Clinton said China should release those still held over the protests and stop harassing those who took part.
Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people died in the crackdown in Beijing, and open discussion of the events of 20 years ago remains taboo in China.
China has boosted security ahead of Thursday's anniversary of the killings.
Many dissidents say they have been told to leave Beijing or are confined to their homes.
Even in Hong Kong, where freedom of expression is guaranteed, some dissidents have been denied entry.
But Mrs Clinton said in a statement that the anniversary was a chance for China to "reflect upon the meaning of the events that preceded that day".
She said China "should examine openly the darker events of its past and provide a public accounting of those killed, detained or missing, both to learn and to heal."
"China can honour the memory of that day by moving to give the rule of law, protection of internationally-recognised human rights, and democratic development the same priority as it has given to economic reform," she added.
Turned away
The statement represents a tougher line than the Obama administration has taken so far when addressing China's human rights record, the BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from Washington.
She says Mrs Clinton had disappointed activists at the start of her tenure by saying human rights should not interfere in discussions with China about other issues, like climate change and North Korea.
The Chinese Communist Party has never held an official inquiry into what happened in and around the square 20 years ago, and discussion of the issue is banned on the mainland.
Earlier on Wednesday, Xiang Xiaoji, now a US citizen, was trying to come to Hong Kong on Wednesday to join commemorative events being held to mark the anniversary. But he was refused entry and returned to New York.
Another prominent protest leader, Wu'er Kaixi, flew from his home in Taiwan to Macau on Wednesday, but was detained on arrival.
Mr Kaixi told reporters that he had wanted to go from Macau into mainland China, to see his parents.
Tiananmen Mothers
On the eve of the anniversary, police have been examining visitors at checkpoints dotted around Tiananmen Square, and checking the bags and papers of people in the area.
Some journalists say they have been turned away from the site.
Ding Zilin, the head of a group called Tiananmen Mothers - made up of women whose children were shot dead in the crackdown - has reportedly been blocked from leaving her home, as has the wife of jailed dissident Hu Jia.
Bao Tong - a former official who was purged for sympathising with the Tiananmen protesters - was escorted out of Beijing last week.
In the run-up to the anniversary, the authorities are also blocking social networking sites such as Twitter and Flickr.
Even the architect of Beijing's Bird's Nest Olympic stadium, Ai Weiwei, says his blogs have been blocked.
"Three of my blogs have all been shut down," he told the BBC. "I don't know the exact reason, but I can sense it's about the coming-up anniversary."
Influence from Beijing?
In Hong Kong, too, there is evidence of pre-anniversary sensitivities.
While one exiled Tiananmen leader, Xiong Yan, was allowed into Hong Kong at the weekend, another student leader, Xiang Xiaoji, and a Danish sculptor who made a statue entitled Pillar of Shame were both denied entry.
As a former British colony, Hong Kong is guaranteed autonomy and freedom of expression by the Chinese, but bans on Mr Xiang and others are adding to a growing sense of unease over how solid the territory's rights record really is.
According to the BBC's Vaudine England in Hong Kong, the ruling elite of Beijing-appointed civil servants and powerful business figures believes closeness to Beijing is the only guarantee of survival.
Yet the majority of Hong Kong
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Brazil says debris from crash jet
Debris spotted by planes in waters 650km (400 miles) off Brazil's coast belongs to a missing French airliner, the Brazilian government has confirmed.
Defence Minister Nelson Jobim said he had no doubt the debris was from the Air France jet carrying 228 people.
A Brazilian search plane saw a band of wreckage along a 5km (3m) strip, Mr Jobim told reporters in Rio de Janeiro. There was no report of survivors.
Flight AF 447 was heading from Rio to Paris when it was lost early on Monday.
The discovery of the debris confirmed "that the plane went down" in the area, Mr Jobim said.
He gave few details of the wreckage, saying only that it included metallic and non-metallic pieces.
Earlier, Brazil's air force said it had spotted an airplane seat, an orange buoy and signs of fuel.
Mr Jobim's words will come as grim confirmation of the worst for the families waiting for news both in Paris and Rio, the BBC's Gary Duffy reports from Brazil.
If it is confirmed that all 228 people on Flight AF 447 are dead, it will be the worst loss of life in Air France's history.
Ships on hand
Naval boats are due to arrive in the crash zone on Wednesday, while three merchant vessels are already in the area, the Brazilian defence minister said.
If any bodies are found, they will be transported by ship to the nearest airport, on Brazil's archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, he was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
The defence minister warned that the recovery of the plane's cockpit voice and data recorders could be difficult because of the depth of the ocean.
"It could be at a depth of 2,000m or 3,000m [6,500ft-9,800ft] in that area of the ocean," he said.
He made the announcement after visiting relatives of those aboard the flight, who were being looked after in a Rio hotel by teams including psychological and medical personnel.
France is also sending a research ship equipped with two mini-submarines to the disaster area.
Distress call mystery
Most of the missing people are Brazilian or French but they include a total of 32 nationalities. Five Britons and three Irish citizens are among them.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy will attend a religious service for the families and friends of the missing passengers and crew at Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon told the French parliament that the cause of the plane's loss had still to be established.
"Our only certainty is that the plane did not send out any distress call but regular automatic alerts for three minutes indicating the failure of all systems," he said.
Experts remain puzzled that there were no radio reports from the Airbus and they say that such a modern aircraft would have had to suffer multiple traumas to plunge into the sea, the BBC's Adam Mynott reports from Paris.
Have you been affected by this story? Send us your comments using the form below.
Defence Minister Nelson Jobim said he had no doubt the debris was from the Air France jet carrying 228 people.
A Brazilian search plane saw a band of wreckage along a 5km (3m) strip, Mr Jobim told reporters in Rio de Janeiro. There was no report of survivors.
Flight AF 447 was heading from Rio to Paris when it was lost early on Monday.
The discovery of the debris confirmed "that the plane went down" in the area, Mr Jobim said.
He gave few details of the wreckage, saying only that it included metallic and non-metallic pieces.
Earlier, Brazil's air force said it had spotted an airplane seat, an orange buoy and signs of fuel.
Mr Jobim's words will come as grim confirmation of the worst for the families waiting for news both in Paris and Rio, the BBC's Gary Duffy reports from Brazil.
If it is confirmed that all 228 people on Flight AF 447 are dead, it will be the worst loss of life in Air France's history.
Ships on hand
Naval boats are due to arrive in the crash zone on Wednesday, while three merchant vessels are already in the area, the Brazilian defence minister said.
If any bodies are found, they will be transported by ship to the nearest airport, on Brazil's archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, he was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
The defence minister warned that the recovery of the plane's cockpit voice and data recorders could be difficult because of the depth of the ocean.
"It could be at a depth of 2,000m or 3,000m [6,500ft-9,800ft] in that area of the ocean," he said.
He made the announcement after visiting relatives of those aboard the flight, who were being looked after in a Rio hotel by teams including psychological and medical personnel.
France is also sending a research ship equipped with two mini-submarines to the disaster area.
Distress call mystery
Most of the missing people are Brazilian or French but they include a total of 32 nationalities. Five Britons and three Irish citizens are among them.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy will attend a religious service for the families and friends of the missing passengers and crew at Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon told the French parliament that the cause of the plane's loss had still to be established.
"Our only certainty is that the plane did not send out any distress call but regular automatic alerts for three minutes indicating the failure of all systems," he said.
Experts remain puzzled that there were no radio reports from the Airbus and they say that such a modern aircraft would have had to suffer multiple traumas to plunge into the sea, the BBC's Adam Mynott reports from Paris.
Have you been affected by this story? Send us your comments using the form below.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Obama gives pledge on US 'values'
US President Barack Obama has told the BBC that the US cannot impose its values on other countries.
But, in his first interview with a UK broadcaster, he said the rule of law, democracy and freedoms of speech and religion were "universal values".
"These are values that are important, even when it's hard," he said.
Speaking ahead of a trip to the Middle East and Europe, Mr Obama said closing the Guantanamo Bay prison was a way that America could set a good example.
Mr Obama told BBC North America Editor Justin Webb that he wanted to deliver the message "that democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech, freedom of religion ... are not simply principles of the West to be hoisted on these countries".
He said there were "obviously" human rights issues to address in some Middle Eastern countries, but there were some "universal principles that they can embrace and affirm as part of their national identity".
"The danger, I think, is when the United States, or any country, thinks that we can simply impose these values on another country with a different history and a different culture," he said.
Mr Obama is due to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday in the first stage of his tour of the Middle East and Europe.
He will travel to Egypt on 4 June, where he is set to give a key speech on US ties with the region, before carrying on to Europe to attend D-Day commemoration events.
Nuanced message
Asked whether he would be encouraging the countries he will visit to adopt such values, Mr Obama said "absolutely we'll be encouraging".
But he said that the most important thing for the US was to "serve as a role model".
"That's why, for example, closing Guantanamo from my perspective is as difficult as it is important."
"Part of what we want to affirm to the world is that these are values that are important even when it's hard, maybe especially when it's hard and not just when it's easy."
Mr Obama is facing domestic resistance to his plans to close the Guantanamo detention camp, with critics citing concerns over what would happen to inmates still considered to pose a risk to the US.
Justin Webb says the president chose to speak to the BBC now because his team want to reach the parts of the world the BBC reaches - with a message that is nuanced and thoughtful.
But Mr Obama is not apologising for the actions of the Bush White House, our correspondent adds.
The full interview will be broadcast on the BBC from 0500 BST.
But, in his first interview with a UK broadcaster, he said the rule of law, democracy and freedoms of speech and religion were "universal values".
"These are values that are important, even when it's hard," he said.
Speaking ahead of a trip to the Middle East and Europe, Mr Obama said closing the Guantanamo Bay prison was a way that America could set a good example.
Mr Obama told BBC North America Editor Justin Webb that he wanted to deliver the message "that democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech, freedom of religion ... are not simply principles of the West to be hoisted on these countries".
He said there were "obviously" human rights issues to address in some Middle Eastern countries, but there were some "universal principles that they can embrace and affirm as part of their national identity".
"The danger, I think, is when the United States, or any country, thinks that we can simply impose these values on another country with a different history and a different culture," he said.
Mr Obama is due to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday in the first stage of his tour of the Middle East and Europe.
He will travel to Egypt on 4 June, where he is set to give a key speech on US ties with the region, before carrying on to Europe to attend D-Day commemoration events.
Nuanced message
Asked whether he would be encouraging the countries he will visit to adopt such values, Mr Obama said "absolutely we'll be encouraging".
But he said that the most important thing for the US was to "serve as a role model".
"That's why, for example, closing Guantanamo from my perspective is as difficult as it is important."
"Part of what we want to affirm to the world is that these are values that are important even when it's hard, maybe especially when it's hard and not just when it's easy."
Mr Obama is facing domestic resistance to his plans to close the Guantanamo detention camp, with critics citing concerns over what would happen to inmates still considered to pose a risk to the US.
Justin Webb says the president chose to speak to the BBC now because his team want to reach the parts of the world the BBC reaches - with a message that is nuanced and thoughtful.
But Mr Obama is not apologising for the actions of the Bush White House, our correspondent adds.
The full interview will be broadcast on the BBC from 0500 BST.
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