Powell calls off Athens visit after protests

Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, cancelled a weekend visit to attend the closing ceremony of the Olympics, prompting Greek Communists to claim it as a victory for anti-American protests.

There were fears that General Powell's appearance at tonight's closing ceremony would have been booed by spectators, marring the festivities. The US State Department made the announcement hours after police used tear gas in central Athens on Friday night to break up a march by about 1,500 demonstrators protesting at his one-day trip.

The Greek Communist Party went ahead with its demonstration yesterday morning. Several hundred protesters marched peacefully through the capital, waving red flags and banners denouncing General Powell and US foreign policy.

Greece's Foreign Ministry said General Powell told his counterpart, Petros Moliviatis, that "urgent responsibilities" prevented him from making the visit, which was to include meetings with athletes and government leaders. In Washington, the State Department said the protests played no role in the decision. But the prospect of television pictures of anti-US demonstrations on the eve of the Republican Convention in New York may also have been a factor.