Peru eyes backing bill to resume shooting down drug planes

[WorldNews]

The government of President Ollanta Humala said on Tuesday it might back a bill that would lift a 14-year-old ban on shooting down aircraft suspected of carrying drugs, even though the U.S. government opposes the practice. Passage threatens joint anti-narcotics efforts with the United States and possibly millions of dollars in aid. "It's under evaluation," Interior Minister Jose Luis Perez told reporters on Tuesday, referring to the bill authored by opposition lawmaker Carlos Tubino. The legislation would allow the military to shoot down unauthorized airplanes flying in Peru's airspace.

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