RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Brazil said on Saturday that it would continue fingerprinting and photographing U.S. visitors for at least 30 days in retaliation for new U.S. anti-terrorism controls.

The foreign ministry said in a statement that the government has approved a measure, to be published on Monday, that will keep the security system in place while a government panel reviews immigration rules.

The Brazilian move comes three days before Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and President Bush  were to discuss the issue at a regional meeting in Mexico.

"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 including Brazilians who need visas to enter the country. It exempts citizens of 27 mainly European nations who do not need visas for short trips.

In retaliation, a Brazilian federal judge ordered that starting Jan. 1, U.S. 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 Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the Brazilian measures were discriminatory.

"We are doing it for all individuals coming into the United States, whereas in this one case in Brazil a judge singled out Americans," Powell told reporters before talks with Amorim.

Brazil's center-left government is cautious about spoiling a good relationship with the United States, but Lula does not want to be seen backing down on an issue that has huge popular support.

© Copyright 2004 Reuters Ltd

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