The United States Embassy on Tuesday denied allegations it was "seeking to spread avian influenza (AI) or cause harm to human life through biological weaponization of the AI virus as false and without merit".

In a press release sent to The Jakarta Post, it said such allegations "are preposterous and a grave injustice to the people of the United States".

It referred to Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari, whom it said had made false claims that the United States was developing biological weapons from avian influenza samples.

In her recently released book Saatnya Berubah, Tangan Tuhan Dibalik Bird Flu (It's Time To Change, Divine Hands Behind Bird Flu), the minister alleged Washington was using bird flu samples shared by affected countries to create biological weapons.

Indonesia since February last year has stopped sharing bird flu samples with the World Health Organization pending an agreement that would benefit Indonesia in terms of vaccine distribution.

The press release said the United States was dedicated to working with other governments and international organizations to help prevent the spread of this disease, to avert any possible avian influenza pandemic and to plan for possible health contingencies.

The United States and Indonesia, it said, have a close partnership in combating avian influenza and the United States has provided more than US$50 million in support for Indonesia's efforts to prevent and control avian influenza since 2005. -- JP/Tony Hotland

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