US lawmakers concerned at takeover by Arab company of US ports

MEMBERS of the US Congress and the Bush administration are at odds over whether security is compromised by an Arab company’s takeover of operations at six major American seaports.

Some lawmakers expressed concern that the safeguards are insufficient to thwart infiltration of the vital facilities by terrorists.

At issue is the purchase last week of London-based Peninsular and Oriental by Dubai Ports World, a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).