UK to use missile to shield Olympic Games

Fazle Rashid NEW YORK, Nov 15: Britain will use ground to air missile to shield the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London. This was divulged by British Defence Minister Philp Hammond to allay the US fears that there were inadequacies in security arrangements. The British defence minister, speaking before the House of Commons, said that 12000 police officers will be on duty to protect the Olympic Games from any possible attack by terrorists. The British military will be on stand-by to meet any exigencies. And in the world of global politics, King Abdullah of Jordan himself under pressure for wide scale political reforms, urged President Bashar al-Asad of Syria to step down immediately. Asad is smarting from Arab League's threat of suspending Syria's membership. The European Union (EU) has imposed additional sanctions on Syria. The other close Syrian allies like Turkey and Iran have also asked Asad to relinquish power. Asad's foreign minister Walid Moallem offered apology for attack on foreign embassies by pro-Asad goons but maintained that the government had complied with the terms of peace plan reached with Arab League. Arab League and pro-democracy activists strongly debunked the Syrian government claim, saying government killing machine has killed more than 240 political activists since the peace deal was signed. Syria has requested for an emergency Arab League meeting. Arab League plans to deploy over 500 observers to watch developments in Syria. The EU has already frozen the assets of 19 Syrian companies and imposed travel ban on 18 close associates of Asad. European Investment Bank has stopped giving Syria any fresh loan.