US diplomats await third meeting with plane crew

US diplomats are awaiting a third meeting with members of the spy plane's crew stranded on Hainan island.

The move came as China and the United States moved towards a diplomatic resolution of the crisis over the collision of the plane and a Chinese fighter jet.

Army Brigadier General Neal Sealock said that officials have been promised a meeting and are positive it will take place.

Brig Sealock met the 24 crew members of the aircraft for the second time on Friday. They have been held by the Chinese since they made an emergency landing on Hainan island after Sunday's collision.

In Beijing, US Ambassador Joseph Prueher praised the crew for "acting just like their parents would like them to act".

"I can only tell you we are having meetings. We are in contact and we are still very hard at work," Mr Prueher said.

Meanwhile, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported that the wife of the missing Chinese fighter pilot, Wang Wei, had sent a letter to US President George W Bush.

The text of the letter from Ruan Guoqin carried by Xinhua echoed official Chinese comments blaming the United States for the collision. It also accused Bush and his administration of being "too cowardly" to offer an apology and of defaming Wang.

President Bush and Chinese President Jiang Zemin are reviewing drafts of a letter that would have a joint commission resolve the impasse and give both sides a chance to air their cases.

Both governments have said they want a quick end to the crisis to prevent damage to already thorny relations.