Cooperation could also include permitting the use of airspace for overflight rights of planes carrying terror suspects, the report said.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Each is allowing important overflight rights of considerable value to the war against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Central Asia.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Hearing sddresses Saudi, Egyptian unreliability

"The government of Ecuador regrets the involuntary overflight... and stresses that it was a completely accidental event of no significant import or duration, " a statement said.

BBC: 'Ecuador incursion' into Colombia

Recent incidents, including an overflight by a Chinese aircraft that - according to Japan - was the first Chinese intrusion into its airspace since 1958, is only likely to intensify this trend.

BBC: Japan boosts defence spending 'in response to China'

To make matters worse, when America's secretary of state, Colin Powell, at last let it be known that his government now wanted nothing more than overflight rights, to which the Turkish parliament agreed on March 20th, the government denied the Americans use of Turkish airspace, saying it wanted them to agree to the deployment of thousands of Turkish troops in northern Iraq.

ECONOMIST: Turkey's promises were always too hard to keep