Greeks to take to streets over Powell visit

Greeks opposed to US policy in Iraq will march to the US embassy on Friday in protest at a weekend visit to the Olympics by Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Greeks opposed to US policy in Iraq will march to the US embassy on Friday in protest at a weekend visit to the Olympics by Secretary of State Colin Powell.

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Organisers said on Wednesday they expected thousands to turn out although the government has urged them to bear in mind tight security and any impact on Greece's image during the Games.

"He is a warmonger and we don't want him here. He is coming to watch the Olympics while American occupation forces are slaughtering hundreds of Iraqis daily," said Yannis Sfakakis, a representative of the Stop the War Coalition.

"I would like to believe that organisers of such protests will bear in mind that this is an especially critical period for the country in the middle of the Olympic Games and that they will safeguard the so far perfect image of Greece," government spokesman Theodoris Roussopoulos said.

Powell is due to be in Athens from Saturday to Monday and will attend the Games' closing ceremony on Sunday.

Greece is spending an unprecedented $1.2 billion on security at the first summer Olympics since September 11, 2001.