Washington: US President George W Bush has rejected Congressional pressure to suspend an Arab company's takeover of operations at US seaports.
Bush has said a deal to allow an Arab company to take over six major US seaports must go forward, and he will veto any congressional effort to stop it.
Both Republicans and Democrats are against allowing UAE-based Dubai Ports World to manage ports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.
US ports are considered vulnerable since the September 11 attacks. New York Senator Charles Schumer is among those voicing concern.
"After careful review by our government, I believe the transaction ought to go forward," Bush said.
"I want those who are questioning it to step up and explain why all of a sudden a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard than a Great British company. I am trying to conduct foreign policy now by saying to the people of the world, 'We'll treat you fairly.'"
Bush took the rare step of calling reporters to his conference room on the airliner after it landed from the return flight from Colorado, where Bush had made a speech.
His topic on the plane, the ports security deal, has become a major headache for the White House, and Bush clearly was trying to put it to rest. He said the seaports arrangement had been examined extensively by the administration and was "a legitimate deal that will not jeopardize the security of the country."
Earlier, Senate Republican leader Bill Frist urged the administration to reconsider its decision to allow the transaction, under which a British company that has been running six US ports would be acquired by Dubai Ports World, a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates.
(With AP inputs)
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