No Chinese Guard For Games Torch In Australia

The Age

Thursday March 27, 2008

Brendan Nicholson

AUSTRALIA appears to have received no request from Beijing for China to send troops from the People's Liberation Army to guard the Olympic torch during its appearance Down Under.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland rejected a media report that China had made the request directly to the Australian Federal Police. The torch would be guarded by the federal police, Mr McClelland told the media yesterday.

A spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said neither the minister nor the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had had any approach from China regarding the Olympics. Mr McClelland said that if such a request was made, the answer would be "no".

"Australia takes responsibility for its own security and that is the case whether we're dealing with a visiting dignitary from overseas, whether we're dealing with APEC, whether we're dealing with a national or international sporting event," Mr McClelland said.

China was reported to have made the request after pro-Tibetan protests in Greece this week. -- BRENDAN NICHOLSON

© 2008 The Age

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