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US says letter to wife of missing Chinese pilot will express regret, not apology

In the United States, the White House says a letter being sent to the wife of a Chinese pilot missing after his jet collided with a U-S spy more than a week ago, will NOT contain an apology but will acknowledge her personal grief.

Washington correspondent Michael Carey has more.

Last week, the bereaved wife of the missing pilot wrote to President Bush accusing the U-S of cowardice for not offering a full apology for the collision. That's still a non-negotiable point according to the US administration but officials say President Bush decided to offer his sympathy and respond to elements in the letter which talked about hope for the future. 24 US air crew remain in chinese detention on Hainan Island. The administration today warned Beijing that their quick release was necessary to avoid further harm to the relationship between the two countries.

9/04/01 17:34:52 | ABC Radio Australia News

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