US 'warned Peru on missionary plane'

Pilot Kevin Donaldson is taken to hospital in Iquitos

US officials have claimed that the crew of a surveillance plane tried to stop Peruvian authorities from shooting at a plane carrying US missionaries.

The anti-drugs surveillance plane provided the Peruvian Air Force with location data on the Cessna flown by the missionaries.

The Bowers had worked in Peru since 1993

The plane was shot down by a Peruvian fighter jet shot over Peru's Amazon jungle region on Friday.

But a US intelligence official told Reuters: "The US crew repeatedly expressed their concern that the nature of the aircraft had not been determined.

"Despite serious concerns raised by the US crew the shootdown was authorised by Peruvian authorities."

'Deep regret'

Missionary Veronica "Ronnie" Bowers, 35, and her seven-month-old adopted daughter, Charity, were both killed when their single-engine plane was riddled with bullets before ditching into the Amazon River.

Mr Donaldson was wounded. Also onboard but unhurt were Mrs Bowers' husband, Jim, 35, and their son Cory, six.

US President George W Bush said: "What took place in Peru is a terrible tragedy, and our hearts go out to the families who have been affected."

The Peruvian Defence Ministry expressed "deep regret" over the deaths.

Peruvians thought the plane was carrying drugs

But it defended its actions, saying the plane had been intercepted after it ignored internationally-recognised warnings, leading to suspicions that it was involved in drug-trafficking.

The missionaries dispute this version of events.

A spokesman for their organisation, the Pennsylvania-based Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, said: "All regulations were followed, such as a flight plan, remaining in Peruvian airspace, and maintaining contact with the flight towers."

It happened very fast. The planes... came in from behind and started shooting

Brother of survivor

Mr Bowers has told Peruvian air force investigators that no warning was received before the jets opened fire.

"It happened very fast. The planes flew by first, did some swooping, and then came in from behind and started shooting," his brother quoted him as saying.

Drug zone

US surveillance planes routinely pass information about suspicious aircraft to the Peruvian authorities.

The jungle area where the plane was shot down is close to the border with Colombia, where left-wing guerrillas and drug smugglers are active.

Survivors and the bodies of the dead are due to be flown home to the US on Sunday.