To Australian protesters' cries of "war criminal" and "murderer", Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended her government's role in Iraq on Thursday and said patience and sacrifice were needed to finish the job.
Speaking to students at the University of Sydney's Conservatorium of Music, Rice said she understood why people found it hard to be positive about Iraq when all they saw on their television screens was violence.
"I am confident that the Iraqis will triumph, that we will win in Iraq but we must be patient with these people," said Rice, who repeatedly thanked Australia for being among the first allies to send troops to Iraq. There has been a new wave of sectarian killings in Iraq since the February 22 bombing of a major Shi'ite shrine, raising concern the country is edging closer to civil war.
Soon after Rice began her speech, two protesters were removed from the room after shouting "Condoleezza Rice you are a war criminal" and "Iraqi blood is on your hands and you cannot wash that blood away". Rice, who is on a three-day trip to Australia, immediately shot back she was glad democracy was alive at the university, where she said people were free to speak their minds.
"I am also especially glad to note that democracy will now also be alive and well at the University of Kabul and the University of Baghdad," she said. About 15 minutes into her address another protester interrupted her speech when she referred to freedom. "What kind of freedom are you talking about, you are a murderer", said the demonstrator before being led away. Several protesters were moved away from outside the auditorium before Rice began. Sharp-shooters were positioned on surrounding buildings and security forces looked on from boats in Sydney Harbor.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-03-16T084501Z_01_N16119342_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-USA-AUSTRALIA.xml
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