Snowden case: France apologises in Bolivia plane row
The French foreign ministry issued a statement on the incident.
Ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said: "The foreign minister called his Bolivian counterpart to tell him about France's regrets after the incident caused by the late confirmation of permission for President Morales' plane to fly over [French] territory."
Various French officials had made earlier statements denying that they had done anything to impede the progress of the flight.
Austrian officials said the airport authorities had searched the plane, but with Mr Morales's permission.
But the Bolivian government denied any search had taken place.
There certainly is a lot of denial going on.
Meanwhile various governments in South America have declared this a matter of continental honor.
Anybody who is hoping that this will all die down and go away is likely in for a serious disappointment,