Euro balloonists postpone round-the-world challenge

As a growing number of balloonists compete to be the first to fly non-stoparound the world, a Swiss, Belgium and British trio have postponed their planned attempt.

The three Bertrand Piccard, Wim Verstraeten and Andy Elsen had been due to lift off from Chateau d'Oex in the Swiss Alps tomorrow Thursday.

But a spokesman for the team said the winds looked likely to be more favourable on Friday.

An American balloonist, Steve Fossett, abandoned his latest attempt on the record flight on Monday, when technical problems forced him to land in Russia five days after setting out from the United States.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service