Olympic powers for Australian army

Under construction: The Olympic rings on Sydney Harbour Bridge

Australia is to give the army sweeping new powers to deal with any threat of terrorism during next month's Olympic Games in Sydney.

The authorities say they are not aware of any specific threats, but soldiers and police have been training together for months in anti-terrorist exercises.

The legislation is expected to be passed in time for the Games, which begin on 15 September.

Overall control of Olympic security is in the hands of New South Wales state police.

Under the new law, troops could be deployed to assist state police with

• the release of hostages
• detaining suspects
• searching premises
• erecting barricades
• dealing with bombs

Opposition members of parliament say the new laws are too vague and could authorise soldiers to open fire on the streets of Sydney, even shooting peaceful protesters.

They say troops could also be called out to break any industrial dispute which disrupts the Games.

But Attorney-General Daryl Williams has said the government will accept the inclusion of last minute safeguards in the laws to strictly define the military's powers in emergency situations.

And Prime Minister John Howard insisted the legislation would only give defence forces the power to order troops onto the streets to assist police.

"The whole purpose of this is to make it absolutely certain that in an emergency you can have a comprehensive call out," Mr Howard told Brisbane radio station 4BC.

"The idea of ever using the army in an ordinary civilian disturbance situation is anathema to me," he added.

Anarchists

Police are also preparing for an attempt by thousands of political activists to disrupt a World Economic Forum summit in Melbourne shortly before the Olympics.

Environmentalists are protesting over dioxins

The forum will be attended by government ministers and international economic leaders, including Microsoft chief Bill Gates.

But an alliance including anarchists, trade unionists, animal liberationists, environmentalists are planning an anti-globalisation protest.

Organisers say they will then join Aboriginal protesters for an anti-Olympic rally in Sydney.

Toxic protest

Greenpeace activists have carved the word "Toxic" in a field adjacent to the Sydney Olympic Park in a protest over dioxin levels.

Spokesman Matt Ruchel said about two dozen supporters used grasscutters to create the giant message that will be visible to aircraft passengers.

"We want the millions of visitors to Sydney's Green Games to know that just 2.5 kilometres from athletes and spectators remains one of the most polluted waterways in the world," he said.

Campaigners clad in protective suits inspected barrels of hazardous waste at the old factory site.

The state government plans to sell the site. It says that clean-up work is planned to begin in January.