Iran closes airspace to Merkel plane

In this photograph taken on May 26, 2011, German Chancellor Angela Merkel disembarks from a plane after landing at Deauville-Normandie airport, western France. Iran briefly closed its airspace to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's plane as she flew overnight May 30-31, 2011 to India, her spokesman said. – AFP Photo

BERLIN: Iran briefly closed its airspace to German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s plane as she flew overnight Monday to Tuesday to India, her spokesman said.
“Strange start to Indian trip – Iran temporarily denies over flight to chancellor’s plane. Delayed landing in Delhi,” Steffen Seibert said in a message sent on Twitter.
The reason for the over flight denial was not immediately known.
Media reports said the plane carrying Merkel and a high-level delegation had to circle for two hours over Turkey before receiving permission to cross Iranian airspace.
Meanwhile, Germany on Tuesday summoned the Iranian ambassador after the incident took place, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said.
“Hindering the German chancellor’s passage over Iran is absolutely unacceptable. It shows a lack of respect towards Germany that we will not accept,” Westerwelle said in a statement.
“That is why I have summoned the Iranian ambassador. We shall make it very plain that such a breach of international conventions will in no way be tolerated by Germany,” he added.
A second plane with four of Merkel’s ministers and other delegation members was not delayed.
Merkel has been highly critical of Iran’s human rights’ record and its alleged plans to develop nuclear weapons.
Merkel, who is seeking improved trade between Europe’s biggest economy and booming South Asia, was to meet Tuesday with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patil during a one-day stop in the Indian capital as part of an Asian tour that will also take her to Singapore.