British Av Suffers Under New Guidelines

There are several new developments now in the aftermath of last week's unmasking of a terror plot against commercial aviation.

Pakistani authorities have arrested 17 suspects they believe were connected to the plan... which called for British Muslims to down as many as 10 flights from the UK to America, reportedly using liquid explosives smuggled onboard in carry-on luggage.

Some of those arrested in Pakistan were British citizens. One of those arrested near the border with Afghanistan is a man identified as Rashid Rauf... whom Pakistani intelligence officials says has close ties to al Qaeda.

The Associated Press quotes one Pakistani official who says Rauf's arrest cracked the plot... and led to the arrests of 24 people in Great Britain. Prime Minister Tony Blair's government has thanked Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf for helping thwart the attack.

But the revelation of the terrorists' plan to use liquid explosives to bring down commercial flights has led to major disruptions in air travel around the world... most notably in Britain, where one in every three flights has remained grounded since the plot was uncovered on Thursday.

The British Airports Authority says it's cancelling flights to help alleviate the pressure on airports worldwide as they continue implementing new security precautions in the wake of last week's revelations.

Here in the US, the ban on all liquids carried aboard aircraft continues... putting heavy stress on airline ticket counters and causing unprecedented long lines in airport terminals.

Bomb-sniffing dogs are more visible at airports nationwide... as are police and, in some cases, National Guard troops.

The threat level remains at Red for all flights coming to the US from Britain. For the rest of the airline industry, it's orange.

FMI: www.tsa.gov