Canada banned from NATO base

The United Arab Emirates has banished Canadians from its airbase and prohibited Defence Minister Peter MacKay from entering its airspace.

A long-running spat over commercial landing rights finally boiled over yesterday, when the UAE banned Canadian aircraft from using its covert airbase known as Camp Mirage. For months the UAE has been seeking additional landing slots for its commercial airlines at Canadian airports, but has been repeatedly rebuked by Transport Canada. In retaliation the country's now banned Canadian use of the base, which is the main stopover point for military flights to Afghanistan. Peter MacKay and his top general were rerouted on their way home from a three-day tour of Afghanistan yesterday. Officials warned that the ban will greatly complicate the Canadian Forces' withdrawal from Afghanistan next year.