Canada: Organizers of Global AIDS Conference Insist Security Glitches Will Not Curb Summit

On Friday, organizers of the 16th International AIDS Conference said increased security at airports around the world should not deter the more than 24,000 delegates from 132 countries expected to arrive in the host city of Toronto. Many of those attending were flying in from Britain or the United States, where airports have been under increased security since UK authorities announced Thursday they had foiled a terrorist plot to blow up jets.

"Despite the security alerts at London's Heathrow airport today," organizers said on their Web site Friday, "the International AIDS Conference will take place as planned. We urge delegates and other participants not to cancel flights."

Leading AIDS experts, including UNAIDS Executive Director Dr. Peter Piot and UN HIV/AIDS Special Envoy to Africa Stephen Lewis, are scheduled to lead sessions at the summit, which runs Aug. 13-18. "Time to Deliver" is the theme of the conference, focusing on what organizers consider an urgent need for enhanced HIV prevention, care and treatment for the poor, and increased accountability on the part of those who have pledged to combat the epidemic.

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