71.   Experienced pilots say such an occurrence is extremely rare for civilian aircraft -- and very unforgiving.

72.   Following the crashes, officials grounded all Antonov aircraft and said they would tighten maintenance checks on civilian aircraft and raise the qualification requirements for pilots.

73.   Gardner reminded the meeting that the law had been brought into force following the shooting down by the Cuban government of two U.S. civilian aircraft, killing four people.

74.   He blamed the accident on a battalion leader who ordered that the guns be turned west toward China to avoid hitting civilian aircraft.

75.   In February, Cuba shot down two civilian aircraft carrying four Cuban-American exiles, leading the United States to tighten its economic embargo against the Communist nation.

76.   In the past, factions have fired on civilian aircraft, and kidnapped and killed aid workers.

77.   In the past, Somali factions have fired on civilian aircraft and kidnapped and killed aid workers.

78.   It added that Iraq is interested in buying Russian medicine, medical equipment, communications equipment, civilian aircraft and upgrades to Iraqi railroads and ships.

79.   It cites international covenants banning the use of weapons against civilian aircraft and asks the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal to conduct an immediate investigation.

80.   It came after the United States levied sanctions against the Caribbean island in response to the shooting down by Cuba of two civilian aircraft.