WORLD> Europe
Fog in Romania forces president's plane to land
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-20 17:39

BUCHAREST, Romania: The plane carrying Romania's president was forced to land in a central city after fog in the capital made it unsafe to land hours before he takes part in a debate ahead of Sunday's election.

Traian Basescu was traveling back from Brussels where he attended an EU summit on Thursday.

His plane landed just after midnight in the city of Sibiu. He said he was looking forward to returning to Bucharest.

Basescu faces a live televised debate later Friday with former Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana and Liberal Party leader Crin Antonescu. The three are top candidates for Sunday's presidential election.

Basescu is running for a second five-year term.