SALT LAKE CITY?Criticism of Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff?s opposition to an airline refusing service to three Utah residents of Middle Eastern descent has turned to support.

Shurtleff?s office was inundated with angry emails and telephone calls last week after he threatened to sue Northwest Airlines if it did not apologize.

After weekend news reports of the reaction, calls to Shurtleff?s office changed, and he now is being praised, said spokesman Paul Murphy.

One letter, written by a man whose Japanese-American parents were sent to an internment camp during World War II, calls Shurtleff the ?voice of reason,? Murphy said.