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Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ From foreign press Scientists have announced the discovery of the world's oldest known fossil primate skeleton, which suggests the early ancestors of humans might be "miniscule monkeys" smaller than rats. The nearly complete skeleton, unearthed in central China's Hubei Province in 2003, belongs to a new genus and species named Archicebus achilles, according to a paper co-written by Chinese, American and French scientists and published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature. Scientists said the monkey lived 55 million years ago, during the early part of the Eocene epoch. It is 7 million years older than the oldest primates known previously, including Darwinius from Messel in Germany and Notharctus from Wyoming in the United States. The tiny primate had a body around 71 mm long and its weight was estimated between 20 and 30 grams. Studies into its skeleton suggest the creature was a frequent leaper favoring four-limbed grasp-leaping, and its small eyes and pointy teeth indicate it was an insect-hunter only by day. Dr. Ni Xijun of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who led the research team, said the primate was an early member of the tarsier family but one very close to anthropoids, which include monkeys, apes and humans. "It lies close to the root of the primate phylogenetic tree, where the lineages of tarsiers and anthropoids have just begun to diverge, which explains why it bears traits of both tarsiers and anthropoids," Ni said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. Ni said the discovery of the new primate offered clues to the evolutionary roots of higher primates, or anthropoids, and illustrated the life of human's farthest ancestors. xxxxxx The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) dropped its plan to allow knives on airplanes, which has been banned following the Sept. 11 attacks, the agency announced on Wednesday. "After extensive engagement with the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, law enforcement officials, passenger advocates, and other important stakeholders, TSA will continue to enforce the current prohibited items list," the agency said in a statement. The agency said in March it sought to remove pocket knives with blades less than 6 cm in length and 1.27 cm in width and some other sporting equipment from the list of items airline passengers are prohibited from carrying on planes. It argued that removing knives from its prohibited items list would allow airport security screeners to focus more on searching for explosive devices. The measure would have become the first loosening of restrictions for carry-on baggage since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. However, the agency has been under fire after announcing the policy change and had to delay the implementation of the new rule in April. Those who have criticized the TSA's knives plan moved quickly to praise its decision to drop it off. "It seemed obvious to most travelers and airline employees that the decision to allow knives on planes was wrong, and we're glad the TSA, after further review and input, has seen it our way," Senator Chuck Schumer said in a statement.