Canada 'reassured' in US border travel row

The US tightened border controls to keep militants out

By Ian Gunn BBC correspondent in Vancouver

The Canadian government says the United States is backing down in a dispute over the way it treats some Canadians when they enter the US.

They (the US) have given firm assurances that this matter will be dealt with

Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Graham

Earlier, Ottawa warned Canadians born in some Middle Eastern nations to think carefully before visiting the US because tougher customs regulations might single them out.

Canada's foreign minister now says he has been told that all Canadians will be treated in the same way.

But in Washington, officials say Canadians are not being given blanket exemptions.

There were cheers and applause in the Canadian parliament on Thursday as Foreign Minister Bill Graham stood to announce that the US had changed it mind.

He said US ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci had just assured him that Canadians carrying Canadian passports will all be treated in the same way when they enter the US, no matter where they were born.

Political anger

Canada issued a travel warning this week, saying citizens born in five Middle Eastern nations should think carefully before entering the US because of the way they might be treated by authorities.

Mr Graham says his government's travel warning will now be dropped.

The American restriction sparked political anger in Canada.

But some opposition politicians wonder if this is the victory the government is claiming, and indeed, in Washington, a spokesman for the US Department of Justice said that there is no blanket exemption for Canadians or citizens of any country to tougher new customs rules.

However, he did say that measures are being taken to minimise their impact on Canada.

In Ottawa, officials concede that the new measures may take some time to come into effect, and that they have yet to hear details of the changes.