US Secretary of State Colin Powell has cancelled plans to attend the Olympics closing ceremonies in Greece because of the "press of business" including crises in Iraq and Sudan.
The decision was unrelated to anti-US protests by thousandds of people in Athens yesterday that were broken up when police hurled tear gas at demonstrators headed toward the US Embassy, said US State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper today.
Greek activists hoisted a massive banner saying "Powell Killer Go Home" on the Acropolis hillside towering over Athens on Saturday protesting against his planned 24-hour visit to attend Sunday's closing ceremonies.
"Secretary of State Colin Powell informed Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis that due to the press of business in Washington the secretary would not be able to travel to Athens to attend the closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a statement.
Asked what would keep Powell in Washington, Cooper said: "Among other things, there is much going on in Iraq, especially in Najaf, and in Sudan that requires the secretary's close attention."
Shi'ite fighters left the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq on Friday and began turning in their weapons after a peace agreement ended a bloody rebellion. Sudan faces a UN deadline next week to defuse a humanitarian crisis in the Western Sudan region of Darfur or possibly face sanctions.