Qld: Downer questions safety of opposition Middle East mission

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2001
Qld: Downer questions safety of opposition Middle East mission

The federal government has labelled the opposition's visit to Middle East refugee camps
as a political stunt, questioning the safety of such a trip.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman KEVIN RUDD heads to the Middle East tomorrow to
check on the effectiveness of Australian government contributions to Afghanistan's refugee
crisis.

But Foreign Affairs Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER responded by saying people like that
should be careful about visiting such countries.

Mr DOWNER says they've consular advice discouraging Australians from visiting those
countries and for very good reason.

But Mr RUDD says first-hand analysis of refugee camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan was
an important step the government had failed to carry out.

AAP RTV jcs/jmd/klw

KEYWORD: TERROR AUST RUDD (BRISBANE)

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