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Reuters - 2 February 2003
ADELAIDE, Australia, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Protests against the World Cup cricket match between Zimbabwe and Australia in Bulawayo on February 24 are likely to turn violent, the Australian government said on Sunday.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australian High Commissioner Jonathon Brown had spent the last two days in the African city and reported to the government that Zimbabwean police were likely to meet protests aggressively.
"His report says, firstly, that the opposition in Bulawayo don't want the cricket game to go ahead," Downer told reporters in Adelaide on Sunday.
"Secondly, he believes there will be demonstrations mounted by the opposition and others in Bulawayo at the time of the game.
"Thirdly, he has ... been unable to get a commitment from the Zimbabwean police that they won't react to demonstrators in a disproportionately aggressive way, thereby undermining the security situation."
Downer said the government would pass on the report to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Australian Cricket Board (ACB). Australian Prime Minister has called on the ICC to move matches away from Zimbabwe because of safety and political concerns.
World Cup champions Australia, drawn to play Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on February 24, have expressed reservations about the match after reports of possible violent protests against President Robert Mugabe.
The Mugabe government's policies have been blamed by the opposition for food shortages and unrest in the African country.
The ACB and ICC have decided to press ahead with the matches. The World Cup tournament will be mainly based in South Africa from February 9 to March 23.
"There won't only be the Australian cricketers and their support staff, there will be quite a number of Australians present at the game as spectators," Downer said.
"So we naturally remained concerned about the security situation. It is our view that the International Cricket Council should move the games from Zimbabwe to more appropriate locations in Africa."
ADELAIDE, Australia, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Protests against the World Cup cricket match between Zimbabwe and Australia in Bulawayo on February 24 are likely to turn violent, the Australian government said on Sunday.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australian High Commissioner Jonathon Brown had spent the last two days in the African city and reported to the government that Zimbabwean police were likely to meet protests aggressively.
"His report says, firstly, that the opposition in Bulawayo don't want the cricket game to go ahead," Downer told reporters in Adelaide on Sunday.
"Secondly, he believes there will be demonstrations mounted by the opposition and others in Bulawayo at the time of the game.
"Thirdly, he has ... been unable to get a commitment from the Zimbabwean police that they won't react to demonstrators in a disproportionately aggressive way, thereby undermining the security situation."
Downer said the government would pass on the report to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Australian Cricket Board (ACB). Australian Prime Minister has called on the ICC to move matches away from Zimbabwe because of safety and political concerns.
World Cup champions Australia, drawn to play Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on February 24, have expressed reservations about the match after reports of possible violent protests against President Robert Mugabe.
The Mugabe government's policies have been blamed by the opposition for food shortages and unrest in the African country.
The ACB and ICC have decided to press ahead with the matches. The World Cup tournament will be mainly based in South Africa from February 9 to March 23.
"There won't only be the Australian cricketers and their support staff, there will be quite a number of Australians present at the game as spectators," Downer said.
"So we naturally remained concerned about the security situation. It is our view that the International Cricket Council should move the games from Zimbabwe to more appropriate locations in Africa."
