Rice 'a war criminal'

2006-03-16 16:32

Sydney - United States secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, maintained on Thursday that Iraq would be a success story.

She was facing student anti-war protests in Australia, one of the US's closest allies.

"Condoleezza Rice, you are a war criminal. Iraqi blood is on your hands and you can't wash that blood away," a student yelled several times, before he and a female friend were led away by security guards.

Rice, who was on a three-day visit to Australia for security talks, said she was glad to see that democracy was alive and well at the University of Sydney and she hoped it was the same at the universities of Baghdad and Kabul.

Police clashed with a group of about 30 anti-war protesters ahead of Rice's speech. A number were pushed back by mounted officers, and five were arrested for hindering police.

Stop the War Coalition spokesperson, Anna Samson, said the protest was one of several planned to mark the third anniversary of the war in Iraq on March 20.

The secretary of state was interrupted a second time as she spoke about the push for freedom in Iraq, where US troops led a campaign to oust former dictator Saddam Hussein almost three years ago.

'You are a murderer'

"What freedom are you talking about?" a student asked. "For the Iraqi people, you are a murderer."

Rice, who once entertained hopes of being a concert pianist, was speaking to Conservatorium of Music students from the University of Sydney.

She said earlier the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan were the direct result of the September 11 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.

Her comments followed a poll released in the US which found a majority of Americans believed the conflict in Iraq was a "war of choice" rather than a necessary step to ensure US security.

Rice said the military campaigns were linked to the broader fight against terrorism.

"We are here in this global war on terrorism, not because we chose it but because the United States of America was attacked in impunity on September 11, by those who desire to unravel our way of life," she told military personnel aboard the USS Port Royal in Sydney Harbour.

"Because you volunteered to this great struggle, we are going to win it on behalf of the United States and the United States will be more secure".

- AFP