DAR AL HARB-U.S.A. / GREECE: BOMB ON PLANE - ARAB CALLERS - ON BEHALF OF SADDAM...

Greek plane emptied after bomb alert

A Greek aircraft bound for Athens from New York was given the all-clear after a dawn emergency landing in Ireland Sunday prompted by a telephone tip-off that there was a bomb on board "for Saddam (Hussein)", the dead Iraqi dictator.

The plane, belonging to Olympic airlines, was carrying 183 passengers and 12 crew.But the airline told it to land at the nearest airport on receiving the tip-off and it touched down at Shannon, western Ireland, at 4:20 am (0420 GMT).

Those aboard disembarked while the aircraft, an Airbus 340, was searched.

"Unknown individuals speaking English with an arab accent warned of the presence of a bomb on the plane, saying it was 'for Saddam'", an airline spokesman said, adding two calls had been received at Athens airport early Sunday morning.

The plane was searched by police who found nothing and gave it the all-clear at around 1030 GMT, a spokesperson for Shannon airport said.


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