Clinton to be met by huge anti-U.S. protests in Greece

ATHENS -- U.S. President Bill Clinton will be greeted by huge protests when he arrives for a two-day visit on Nov. 13.

Many of the protests are being supported by Greece's Communist Party and concern NATO strikes against Yugoslavia. The U.S.-led forces in the campaign sparked anti-American feelings in much of Greece.

Greek officials have pledged that they will not allow the demonstrators to mar Clinton's visit. "People will be able to demonstrate if they want to [but] foreign guests of the state must be protected,'' Dimitris Efstathiadis, general secretary of Greece's public order ministry, said.

Police sources said at least 5,000 officers will be involved in the security operation, blocking off large areas of central Athens to demonstrators.

"[Clinton] must be allowed to follow his program as planned, visiting members of the Greek government and seeing the Acropolis as well as attending various other planned events.'' Efstathiadis said.

Other details of Clinton's schedule have not been announced. But White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said the Cyprus issue would be an important part of Clinton's visit.

"The president will deal directly with the situation in Cyprus on this trip," Lockhart said. "It's an important part of the agenda."

On Nov. 15, Clinton is scheduled to travel to Ankara.