Powell Cancels Athens Visit Amid Protests

WizardOfAz · August 28th, 2004, 01:51 PM

Secretary of State Colin Powell on Saturday canceled a weekend visit to attend the closing ceremony of the Olympics, just hours after demonstrators marched through central Athens.

Powell couldn't attend because of "urgent responsibilities," the foreign ministry said.

In a letter, Powell thanked Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis "for the especially successful and secure organization of the games."

In Washington, State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said the anti-American protests in Athens played no role in Powell's decision.

"The secretary considered a number of factors. The press of business in Washington made him decide he could not visit at this time," Cooper said.

"What's going on in Iraq and Sudan require the secretary's close attention," he said.

The Greek foreign ministry said Powell would visit Athens in October.

Many Greeks had wondered why Powell planned to visit this weekend, knowing his presence would likely provoke protests. Until Powell announced his visit, there had been none of the anti-American demonstrations that were feared in the run-up to the games.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040828/D84O7D400.html