Powder scare shuts part of Australia parliament

[cal04]

Part of Australia's Parliament House was shut down for the fourth time this month on Tuesday after another packet of white powder was sent to the building, authorities said. The incident comes after similar security scares at six embassies, including the Indonesian, U.S., British and Japanese missions, and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. All the contents of the packets involved turned out to be harmless.

"Another package of white powder has been detected in the loading dock. The incident has been contained in the loading dock, and (Australian Capital Territory) emergency services have been called," Parliament House authorities said in a statement. It was the third time the loading dock has been shut down, while Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's office in the building was also closed on Friday after receiving a harmless package of powder. Downer was returning from India at the time.

The Indonesian embassy has been closed twice this month after receiving packages of white powder. They came amid an emotional backlash in Australia against Indonesia's jailing of an Australian woman on drug smuggling charges. The U.S., British, Japanese, Italian and South Korean missions in Canberra and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet all received packages of white powder last Thursday.

All the missions involved in the security scare are of countries which have troops in Iraq, while Australia is a staunch U.S. ally and among the first to join the war on Iraq two years ago.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SYD200060.htm

[sniffa]

1. do they stiLL wear the wigs?

how wouLd they notice other powder then?