Katrina: U.S. turns down offer of Russian rescue plane.

The United States has turned down the offer of a Russian rescue plane to help areas hit by Hurricane Katrina. However, they will reconsider the Russian offer if it becomes necessary.

Yury Ushakov, the Russian ambassador to the U.S. said the American authorities repeatedly stated this move was not warranted after Russia made an official proposal to provide a rescue plane to the U.S. on Wednesday.

He was told that the U.S. authorities and its emergency services had everything they needed for the rescue effort in the affected areas.