| March peacefully against
Powell …Greek govt urges protestors
By Ben Memuletiwon, Athens
Monday, August 30, 2004
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Athens Olympic Games
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The Greek government on Friday urged protestors planning
demonstrations against the arrival of US Secretary of State,
Colin Powell in Athens not to mark the hitherto peaceful Olympic
Games with violent incidents.
"We have offered an environment of celebration and joy,
security and respect of human rights," Public Order Minister
Yiorgos Voulgarakis, told a news conference.
"I want to believe that the demonstrators Friday and
Saturday, will respect this climate," he added.
Powell will be in Athens from Saturday to Monday to attend
Sunday's closing ceremonies of the Games.
Left-wing Greek organisation "Genoa 2001," backed
by leftist party Syn which opposed the US presence in Iraq,
was planning an anti-Powell demonstration on Friday. The KKE
Communist Party has called for another demonstration on Saturday
morning.
Both rallies are to march from central Athens to the US embassy.
Their way would get them past the Athens headquarters of the
International Olympic Committee.
"We want a peaceful demonstration without incidents,"
said Yiannis Sifakakis, a spokesman for "Genoa 2001".
Another anti-Powell rally was scheduled to take place in the
northern city of Salonica on Friday afternoon, shortly before
the Olympic football game between Iraq and Italy kicked off
in a local stadium there.
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