NZ students to protest US Secretary of State visit

25/07/2008 19:25:18

University students in New Zealand have offered a reward to anyone who makes a citizen's arrest on the American Secretary of State when she arrives in the country on Friday.

It will be Dr Rice's first visit, and she'll be met by Prime Minister Helen Clark and then be given a traditional Maori welcome at Government House on Saturday.

New Zealand police say they are expecting protests against Dr Rice's visit, but are warning anyone who attempts to penetrate security around her will be arrested.

Some protesters have already labelled Dr Rice a war criminal for the role she's played in sending coalition troops into Iraq.

The President of Auckland University's student union, David Do, say they are taking her visit very seriously.

"Admittedly, the likelihood of a succesful arrest is probably very low - usually when US officials visit from overseas they are quite heavily shielded from the general public," he said.

Along with trade, Dr Rice and Miss Clark are expected to discuss Afghanistan and the political situation in Fiji.

The US Secretary of State will then fly to Samoa.

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