Italian Jet Fighters Intercept Suspicious Plane after Pope Funeral

Italian military officials say two Italian Air Force jet fighters intercepted a suspicious jet plane from Serbia and Montenegro near Rome, hours after the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Officials said Friday the jet fighters forced the aircraft to land at a military base near the Italian capital after intelligence reports said it may have been carrying a bomb. Officials said they found no bomb aboard the plane.

Italian authorities took exceptional security measures before and during the funeral, attended among others by hundreds of political and religious leaders from around the world.

Some information for this story provided by AFP and AP.