Greece Says Olympics Will Be Safe

Greece's security chief offered assurances Friday that with the help of a seven-nation coalition a secure environment is being provided for this summer's Olympic games in
Athens.

"There is no information so far that any attacks are being planned," Public Order Minister George Floridis said at a news conference. But he cautioned that "the critical period" lies ahead.

"My sense is that the Americans are satisfied with the hard work we are putting into this as well as the high level of expertise," he said.

The United States, Britain, Israel, France, Germany, Australia and Spain are assisting Greece, with Israel especially helpful on preventing suicide bombings, he said.

Greece is spending $800 million on security for the Aug. 13-29 games, three times what Australia spent on security for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, the minister said. Preparations have not stopped even for an hour, he said.

Counterterrorism experts say the Summer Games, drawing 10,500 athletes and hundreds of thousands of spectators, will present an inviting target for terrorists. The FBI, which has played a key security role in the last several Olympics, has been encouraging Greek officials to move more quickly to complete surveys of Olympic venue vulnerabilities and figure out how to limit access.

Questions also have been raised about whether Greece is ready to handle large-scale casualties if a biological or chemical attack occurs.

The terror response will be tested Feb. 6-8 in a joint exercise at the Port of Piraeus, followed by another in March.

Floridis met on Thursday with Condoleezza Rice, President Bush's assistant for national security, and CIA Director George Tenet. He had a meeting scheduled Friday with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

"We have laid out a very, very comprehensive and good plan," Floridis told reporters after seeing Rice.

By Barry Schweid