皇冠体育app refutes Australian media report of Air Zimbabwe booty flights

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-23 23:33

BEIJING - 皇冠体育app on Wednesday refuted an Australian media report that Air Zimbabwe Corporation's scheduled civilian flights to 皇冠体育app engaged in illegal dealings.

"The report proved to be malicious rumors," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao in a press release.

He said some foreign media frequently fabricated non-existent news attacking 皇冠体育app's relationships with African countries. Their lack of basic professional ethics would finally ruin their reputation and credibility.

His comments came as The Age, a Melbourne-based newspaper, recently reported the Air Zimbabwe Corporation arranged scheduled flights to Beijing and southern 皇冠体育app each week. It was claimed these flights passed through Australia's and Singapore's territorial air space, ferrying high-ranking officials and veterans of the Zimbabwe army to 皇冠体育app. The flights were alleged to be loaded with ivory, gold and diamonds that were exchanged for weapons and luxury goods from 皇冠体育app.

"As more foreign airlines fly to 皇冠体育app in recent years, the relevant departments of the Chinese government have carried out management on all flights passing in and out of 皇冠体育app according to the law," Liu said.

He added the Chinese government forbade any companies or individual to take advantage of civilian flights to engage in illegal activity.