A failed parcel bomb found on the cargo plane at East Midlands airport last month was timed to detonate over the Eastern seaboard of the United States, British police said on Wednesday.

The bomb, which originated in Yemen, was discovered inside a printer cartridge. London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that “if the device had not been removed from the aircraft the activation could have occurred over the eastern seaboard of the U.S.”

The bomb was removed from the freight plane during a two-hour stopover at the British airport.

“We can confirm that the cargo plane arrived at East Midlands Airport from Cologne at 0213 BST on Friday, 29 October 2010,” police said in a statement. “The plane left East Midlands Airport at 0420 BST, after the suspect package had been removed.”

The device was disrupted at the airport by explosive officers during the initial examination, and experts had calculated what time the device, one of two sent by courier firm from Yemen, was set to explode.

“Forensic examination has indicated that if the device had activated it would have been at 1030 BST on Friday, 29 October 2010,” police said.

A second mail bomb, also sent from Yemen, was intercepted in Dubai. Both parcels contained the powerful plastic explosive PETN, which is difficult to detect, and were addressed to synagogues in Chicago.

An intensive investigation had been taking place in Britain and overseas following the discovery of the explosive devices.

British Home Secretary Theresa May later announced that Britain will suspend unaccompanied cargo from Yemen and Somalia into the country and review all aspects of air freight security.

The move was based on possible contact between al-Qaida in Yemen and Somali terrorist groups, May said.

She also announced a ban on toner cartridges over 500g carried in hand luggage on flights departing from Britain.

Direct passenger and cargo flights from Yemen to Britain were suspended following the attempted downing of a plane bound for Detroit on Christmas Day 2009.

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U.S. takes additional measures to strengthen airline security

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) — U.S. airline industry has taken new measures to strengthen security, which has been a serious concern among the public after recent cargo bomb plot, the U.S. Homeland Security Department said Monday.

“Following the thwarted terrorist plot last week to conceal and ship explosive devices on board aircraft bound for the U.S., the Administration took a number of immediate steps to increase security by tightening existing measures related to cargo bound for the United States,” U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said in a statement.    Full story

Obama thanks Saudi for “critical role” in foiling bomb plot

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday thanked Saudi Arabia for its “critical role” in helping foil a parcel bomb plot against the United States.

Obama called Saudi King Abdullah to discuss the terrorist plot that was disrupted Friday on a tip-off from the kingdom, expressing his “strong appreciation for the critical role” played by Saudi counterterrorism officials in averting this attempted attack and for the “deep and enduring relationship” between the two countries, the White House said.

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A senior politician from the State of Law coalition said late Wednesday that all the blocs had agreed to give current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki another term, the official television reported.

“The leaders of Iraqi political blocs have agreed on the nomination of Maliki to be next prime minster,” Hasan al-Senid, a leading politician in Maliki’s State of Law coalition, was quoted by the Iraqia TV as saying.

The president will still be Jalal Talabani, the parliament speaker will be chosen from the Iraqia list bloc led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, he said.

Senid said the blocs agreed to establish a National Council for Strategic Policy, in which Allawi will be the head.

About the session of parliament scheduled on Thursday, Rose Nuri Shaways, chief negotiator of Kurdish coalition, said in a news conference that the leaders of Iraqi political blocs agreed to hold it in time.

Maliki has been fighting bitterly for another term for the prime minister against his rival Ayad Allawi, who gained narrow win with two seats in the country’s March 7 polls, and the Shiite religious party of Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, headed by Ammar al-Hakim.

Last month, Iraqi Federal Court ordered the country’s parliament to resume as soon as possible.

The parliament’s first session was opened on June 14, three months after the country’s March 7 parliamentary election, but it only lasted for 18 minutes due to disputes over the definition of the largest bloc and the government formation, and was delayed until further notice. Later the session was decided to be resumed on Nov. 11, according to the temporary speaker Fouad Masom, under pressure from the court.

According to the Iraqi constitution, the parliament must elect its new speaker and his two deputies in the first session. Then the parliament under the new speaker would elect a new president who will later assign the candidate of the largest bloc as the prime minister and to form his cabinet.

However, the Iraqi parliamentary blocs insist to agree on the nomination of president, parliament speaker and prime minister, as one package before resuming the parliament session.

Related:

Clinton reaffirms commitment to Iraq as its new government formation looms

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) — U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton on Wednesday reaffirmed U.S. commitment to Iraq as the country’s new government is believed to be formed very soon.

Clinton made the remarks at a joint press conference held with visiting Egyptian Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that Germany will not agree on setting limits on current account surplus, which is a key issue to be discussed at G20 summit in Seoul, South Korea.

“Germany will not accept quantitative targets,” Merkel said at a news conference before leaving, as “competitiveness of countries must be considered on the issue of exports.”

Last month the U.S. treasury secretary Timothy Geithner urged to limit a country’s trade imbalance below 4 percent of its GDP over the next few years.

However, as the largest exporter in the world after China, Germany’s trade surplus has reached 6 percent of its GDP, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Merkel also asked for leaders of G20 to restart the last stage of the Doha round of trade talks and warned the danger of protectionism against the sustainable world recovery.

“The biggest threat for sustainable growth at present is coming from protectionism in its different forms,” she said.

She also signalled her intention to discuss exist strategies from current stimulus programs at G20 saying “nobody wants to see new bubbles,” and Europe should not “bear single side adjustment.”

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was also present at the press conference. He will accompany Merkel to Seoul.

He weakened his criticism against the U.S. recent decision of buying back 600 billion U.S. dollar worth of government bonds a few days ago, saying a strong U.S. is in the interest of Germany and Germany will try its best to help the U.S. instead of having conflicts.

Just before Merkel leaving, a key economic report issued by the German government’s economic council, so called “five wise men” added more ammunition to Merkel at G20.

The report predicted German economy will see 3.7 percent of increase this year and 2.2 percent next year.

The report backed Merkel’s current policies on strengthening international financial regulations and domestic fiscal consolidation plan, saying they can support a “a stable but flat future growth.”

It also showed that German domestic consumption has began to catch up with the exports in supporting the whole economy, which can ease Merkel in facing those criticism against German exports that cause world trade imbalance.

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