Iceland's volcanic ash forces PM to divert route

Brasilia: Flying ash from Iceland's erupting volcano has forced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special aircraft to change its planned route and now he will return to home via Johannesburg in South Africa.

Singh, who is currently in the Brazilian capital for IBSA and BRIC summits, was earlier scheduled to land in Frankfurt in Germany for a technical halt.

However, the ash clouds drifting from Iceland's spewing volcano has forced closure of air space over northern Europe as volcanic ash represented a significant safety threat to aircraft.

Singh's special aircraft will now leave Brasilia for Johannesburg on its return to India, taking the Prime Ministerial delegation back home after the two-nation trip, including the US.