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US officials granted renewed contact with crew of spy plane

Consular officials in southern China have been granted renewed contact with the crew of the downed American spy plane.

But as China correspondent Tom O'Byrne reports, the two sides are still far apart on any resolution of the stand-off.

After eight days' detention, the crew men and women whose plane crash-landed on Hainan island are still no closer to going home. Instead there's another consular visit planned in the coming hours, while diplomats from Washington and Beijing work on a draft communique that might lead to an agreement. But public opinion in China remains strongly behind president Jiang Zemin's demand for an apology, and the weekend saw more key political figures echoing his call. With president Jiang out of the country until next weekend, there's speculation among Asian diplomats based in Beijing, this issue will remain fluid for some days to come.

9/04/01 21:51:18 | ABC Radio Australia News

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