The Australian government said yesterday it was confident of security precautions being taken for this week's WTO meeting, which authorities fear could attract up to 10,000 protesters.
Workers yesterday were removing rubbish bins and constructing a concrete and wire mesh fence in a 200m perimeter around a hotel at Sydney's Olympic Park where trade ministers from 25 countries will meet.
"I'm quite sure security will be adequate and there's no problem," Trade Minister Mark Vaile told Australian television.
Last month, Vaile changed the venue from an upscale Sydney harborside suburb after security officials warned that anti-globalization activists were planning violent protests.
The state government of New South Wales offered the site of Sydney's 2000 Olympics, which was built with advanced security systems.
New South Wales Premier Bob Carr said Sunday that police were prepared for all threats and urged protesters to stay away from the two-day meeting that begins Thursday.
``This is crazy to have demonstrations against talks designed to open up trade,'' he said.
Under agreements that kicked off the latest WTO trade round in Doha, Qatar, last year, the 144 member nations must meet a number of periodic deadlines to complete the round by the end of 2004.
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