Guard your US flights, America orders rest of world

The United States has ordered other governments to obey a new American requirement placing armed sky marshals on some flights to prevent hijackings, as the nation approached the New Year with terror threats high.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said the US would enforce the armed guards requirement and also assured Americans concerned about holiday air travel that aviation in the United States since September 11, 2001 “has risen to new heights of security”.