[You know who your friends are when. . .]

Thursday, April 5 3:47 PM SGT

New Zealand calls for release of US air crew

WELLINGTON, April 5 (AFP) -

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark Thursday called on China to release the crew of a United States spy plane it was detaining.

"It is very unfortunate they didn't release them and they should have," she said.

On Monday Clark will meet Chinese General Zhang Wannian, the most senior officer in the People's Liberation Army.

"We have the Chinese general here next week and if the crew haven't been returned home, I'll be making the point they should be," she said.

The 24 crew members of the US spy plane were detained after their aircraft was forced to land in China Sunday after a collision with a Chinese fighter jet.

Foreign Minister Phil Goff also expected the issue to come up in his discussions with the general if the crew had not been released.

"The message I would give to General Zhang Wannian is that we would like to see this matter resolved quickly. I would hope that by Monday the crew would have been repatriated. I can see no purpose in retaining the crew against their will in China," Goff said.

Clark next week leaves for a 10-day trip to Japan, China and Hong Kong.

Zhang was due here Thursday until April 11.

He will visit Burnham army camp outside Christchurch, the Rewi Alley memorial in the South Island, the Antarctic Centre in Christchurch, the air force's base at Auckland and the navy's maritime command in Auckland.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2001

Answers

"Clark next week leaves for a 10-day trip to Japan, China and Hong Kong.

Zhang was due here Thursday until April 11."

this ought to keep some travel agents busy.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2001

Making the general can take in a Rugby game?

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2001