Canberra's chief minister hopeful about torch relay
8/4/2008 18:07
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said in
Canberra on Today he would not be ordering a bus to usher the Olympic torch past
protesters in Canberra later this month but security was being reviewed.
He
said the proposed Canberra route was being reassessed in light of chaotic scenes
in Paris overnight and London the day before when protests disrupted the
relay.
Stanhope told ABC Radio he hoped it would not come to that in Canberra
on April 24 during the only Australian leg of the relay.
"I haven't got to
the point of despairing that the relay won't be a wonderful celebration of the
Olympic games, the Olympic spirit," he said.
The torch will be carried
through Canberra by five Australian of the Year winners as well as sporting and
community identities.
But Stanhope says organizers of the Canberra leg were
reviewing security arrangements.
"I met ACT Policing a week or so ago and the
torch and security arrangements were being actively reviewed and updated on the
basis of the most recent intelligence," he said.
There would be a very
significant police presence on the day of the relay, but it may not require a
wide cordon to keep protesters away, he said.
"We will be prepared. We will
take the security measures that are necessary," the chief minister
added.
Xinhua
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