Over 100 Argentine policemen ill from food poisoning prior to Summit of Americas

Over 100 policemen working for the Summit of Americas have fallen ill from food poisoning, said a police official said on Wednesday.

The policemen are expected to recover within two days, said Roberto Garcia, head of the police bureau of the resort city, where the fourth American summit will be held on Nov. 4-5.

Local media said the policemen fell sick because they ate contaminated food and the disease has infected as many as 700. The report has been denied by Garcia.

Argentina has mobilized a total of 7,000 policemen in a bid to fend off possible terrorist attack during the meeting.

Government leaders of 34 countries from the Americas, including US President George W. Bush, are expected to be present during the event.

High on the agenda of the current summit are talks over a future Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), which, if successfully concluded, will group together all the countries in the Americas except Cuba.

Source: Xinhua