NATO set to provide air security at Euro 2004

Portugal has asked NATO to provide Awacs surveillance planes to help monitor airspace during the three week European football championships in June.

More than one million fans are expected at the competition’s 31 games. The 16 nation tournament is to be played at 10 stadiums across the country.

England, Spain, Italy and Portugal – countries which backed the US led invasion of Iraq – are among the nations competing at Euro 2004.

During the tournament Portugal is to restore border controls it scrapped in 1991, bringing back passport checks and vehicle searches, and has already strengthened security at key transport hubs and at main public buildings, including foreign embassies.