13 January 2004	Tuesday	20 Ziqa'ad 1424

NEW YORK, Jan 12: A day before US President George Bush's meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil said on Monday it would continue fingerprinting and photographing US visitors for at least 30 days in retaliation for new US measures.

"We respect and understand the United States security problems, but we must find a solution that also respects the dignified treatment of citizens from all countries," Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told reporters before meeting President Lula in Brasilia.

The United States on Jan 5 started fingerprinting and photographing visitors who need visas to enter the country. It exempts citizens of 27 European nations from acquiring visas for short trips.

In retaliation, a Brazilian federal judge ordered that starting Jan 1, US visitors to Brazil must be fingerprinted and photographed, initially resulting in long lines. The Brazilian government will not appeal the judge's order. On Wednesday US Secretary of State Colin Powell said the Brazilian measures were discriminatory, urging it to review the decision.