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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23548841-601,00.html Paul Maley | April 16, 2008 THE Chinese flame attendants labelled "thugs" after their heavy-handed treatment of protesters overseas will travel alongside the Olympic torch relay in Canberra, not in a bus, contradicting assurances given by Kevin Rudd. ACT Police Commander Shane Connelly told reporters today there would be three Chinese flame attendants following the torch, not two. “They won’t be in the bus. They will be out running in certain areas along the way,’’ he said. “At certain parts of the event they need to come out of the bus to light the torch.’’ International Olympic Committee board member Kevan Gosper yesterday suggested Chinese officials could be called on for help if Australian police could not manage protesters. But Kevin Rudd dismissed his claims as “wrong” and Attorney-General Robert McClelland has warned Chinese officials will have no policing role. The Prime Minister remained adamant last night that the Chinese paramilitaries would be confined to a bus during the relay through Canberra on April 24 and local police would handle security. Commander Connelly said today that the Chinese officials would have no security role but confirmed they would be on the ground. “There’ll be two flame attendants running, there will also be another that will also be performing a duty, but that person won’t be running. It’s a leapfrog type of event,’’ he said. China’s flame attendants, who have been recruited from crack paramilitary squads, have been labelled thugs following violent clashes with protestors during the torch’s run through London and Paris. The ACT Government had previously told reporters that two Chinese flame attendants would travel on the bus behind the procession, leaving only to relight the torch should it go out. The ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has announced Canberra police have been given special powers to search people along the route for proscribed items such as balls, eggs, paintbombs and any similar item that is likely to be used as a projectile. |
