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SYDNEY - Tensions continued to mount in Sydney as senior politicians and police warned protesters to shun violence in demonstrations planned for the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum leaders' summit in the city.
Concern grew yesterday after protesters disrupted power supplies from the Loy Yang electricity station in the Latrobe Valley, near Melbourne, and copies emerged of a training manual, providing techniques for rioters.
Officials have also warned that radical groups, including bus-loads of extremists allegedly planning to travel from Melbourne, will use a protest march on Saturday to incite violence.
About 5000 police and troops, backed by water cannon, armoured vehicles, helicopters, jet fighters and Navy boats, are preparing for confrontation in the streets surrounding more than 5km of steel and concrete fencing ringing off the accommodation and work areas for some of the world's most powerful leaders.
A key target will be United States President George W. Bush, although there is little chance of protests nearing the most heavily-guarded man on the planet.
But protest leaders say they have no intention of violence and know of no plans to promote confrontation with the police. Alex Bainbridge, a spokesman for the Stop Bush Campaign, organising Saturday's march and other, smaller, events this week, said the fact that the planned route carefully avoided streets near the protective fencing was a clear indication no confrontation was intended.
Fellow campaign spokeswoman Diane Fieldes added: "The only people talking about violence are the Government and the police."
Howard yesterday used his page on YouTube to warn against violence and to push the case for Apec.
"I simply ask [protesters] to stop for a moment and consider that if they are really worried about issues such as poverty, security and climate change, then they should support Apec and not attack it."
Later he called protesters "hypocrites", accusing them of hating economic growth and capitalism, and blaming extreme security measures on threats of violent demonstrations.
Howard was backed by Labor leader Kevin Rudd, who said the steel fence - dubbed the "rabble-proof fence" by local media - had his complete support, and that violence should be met with the full force of the law. "People, if they want to put their point of views, can do so peacefully. Violent protest is not the Australian way."
Greenpeace activists were arrested and charged at the weekend for painting an anti-Howard slogan on a ship's hull in Newcastle, and, yesterday, four protesters were cut free and arrested after chaining themselves to conveyor belts at the Loy Yang power station. Their action forced the plant to be shut down.
They were members of Real Action on Climate Change, which said it wanted to send a message to Apec and to tell politicians "to get their heads out of the sand" about climate change.
The demonstration followed the release of a Galaxy Poll showing 54 per cent of Sydneysiders believed the Apec summit should have been held outside the city and that the A$330 million ($385 million) spent staging it was a waste of money.
But the major potential flashpoint will be Saturday's march through downtown Sydney to protest against the Iraq war, Howard's WorkChoices industrial laws, and inaction on global warming.
The march, expected to attract thousands of demonstrators, will move from the Town Hall through Martin Place to Hyde Park, despite a police ban on protests in the Martin Place pedestrian mall.
Although not fenced behind the steel wall, Martin Place is a "declared area" in which police have special powers, and where they have promised to use them if marchers try to cross police lines.
Bainbridge expected that marchers would use non-violent methods, such as a mass sitdown to block streets.
