"Stop and think for a moment. Are you really going to alleviate poverty by killing economic growth?" he said at a news conference in Sydney. Mr Howard said that threats of violent protests, not the presence of foreign leaders and high ranking officials, were to blame for severe security restrictions now being imposed on Australia's largest city.

The Prime Minister spoke soon after he inspected security arrangements around the Opera House, which is to be the summit's main venue. AAP reports: "The reason why we have this security clampdown in Sydney, the reason why people have been inconvenienced is because people in the past have practised and, in the current environment, are threatening violence,'' Mr Howard told reporters. "It's not the fault of the guests in our country. "It's not the fault of the American president, or the Chinese president or the Russian president, it's not the fault of the NSW government or the federal government. It's the fault of people who threaten violence.

"That's why you have to have heavy security. It's got nothing to do with the luggage or the behaviour of the people who are coming here as our guests.'' The prime minister thanked Sydneysiders for their tolerance of heavy security measures which he admitted were causing some "dislocation''.

Mr Howard said the city could expect measures to worsen later this week as more world leaders arrive. Responding to reports that three German tourists were asked by police to delete digital photographs of the APEC security fence, NSW Transport Minister John Watkins said that while it might be "over the top", it was necessary. He said the move was part of the efforts to ensure there was no breach during the major protests expected later this week.

"There is some concern among police that some of those protesters who are coming ... will look for weak points in the fence," Mr Watkins told Southern Cross Broadcasting. "And that one of the things they are doing is a recce of the fence to find where they can attack it.



"There are concerns, perhaps it's a bit over the top, but you can understand the job of NSW Police is to keep us safe and APEC safe."

'Great Wall of Sydney' The fence is a "wall of shame" and undemocratic, the Communist Party of Australia says. Communist Party spokesman Peter Symon said CPA members would be taking part in protests later this week, and he has called on all Australians to "stand up to the intimidation of protesters by the NSW and Federal governments".

"The Great Wall of Sydney is a wall of shame and a testament to the disastrous and anti-people policies of the capitalist leaders of APEC," Mr Symon said in a statement today. "The anti-democratic laws, the violent water cannon, the open threats against protesters and the imposition of restricted zones have robbed the people of Sydney of their city.

"These abuses of our civil liberties must be resisted." Central Sydney opened for business as usual today on the first day of the APEC summit. It was quiet on all fronts despite fears of traffic disruptions as buses were rerouted to avoid Circular Quay and the security fence narrowed major streets.

City workers seemed oblivious to the 2.8-metre high fence around the northern part of the CBD, the added security guards, the checkpoints to screen workers for security passes and the squads of uniformed police on the beat. Little fuss

Workers streamed smoothly along pedestrian walkways with little fuss or disruption. Major road arteries into the CBD suffered no delays, with traffic apparently less heavy than normal. Michael Nichols, who runs a fruit kiosk at Circular Quay, said it was business as usual.

"If anything I've had a few more customers than usual because they have been forced to walk past my kiosk, but it will be the afternoon that is the real test as I rely on tourist trade," he said. "But I am also worried about doing my deliveries as that's going to be a real hassle with traffic alterations around Sydney."

Council workers are sealing up public rubbish bins in Martin Place. Hessian is being taped over the bins. Violent protest manual 'distributed'

The circulation of a step-by-step manual for violent protests vindicates Sydney's huge security operation for the APEC leaders' week, NSW Police Minister David Campbell says.



The protest group Mutiny is reportedly distributing the manual, which details ways to cause public mayhem during major events.



Police have yet to confirm the existence of the manual but Mr Campbell said today he was "sickened" by its contents as reported by News Ltd.



"(It) demonstrates why police have had to work so diligently in preparing the security arrangements for this major event, APEC Leaders' Week in Sydney," Mr Campbell told reporters.



"(It) is the largest security event in Australia's history both with the potential for a terrorist act and these proposed violent protests."



AAP Protesters' power station action

Brian Robins reports: The disruption to power supplies from protesters at the large Loy Yang power station in Victoria is over, with the idled electricity generation capacity expected to be back in operation soon. "It's over. The protesters have been removed," said Les Hosking, the chief executive of the National Elecricity Market Management company, which manages the nation's wholesale electricity market. He described the security breach as "surprising in this day and age".

"I'm sure they will review security there. Everyone will heighten security with APEC getting under way. "This was the second incident after the painting of the slogan on that coal ship in Newcastle. They seem to be looking for a soft target."

The incident did not disrupt electricity generation in Victoria, given the surplus capacity available in that state, as well as other states, although it did push wholesale electricity prices higher, to about $60 per megawatt hour, up from the more normal price of $30 at this time of the week. Four members of a group called Real Action on Climate chained themselves to a coal-carrying conveyor belt at the power station about 5.30am, forcing output at the power station to be cut. Loy Yang supplies about a third of Victoria's energy needs.

Nick Sheridan reports: The protest stopped one of the conveyor belts from transporting coal to one of the plant's four 600 watt generators, which provides effectively 25 per cent of its power. "All I know is that they are in Tower A and they are chained up to conveyor belts and as a result the power station has had to lock down as a result of safety [concerns]," a Victoria Police spokesman said earlier.

Police officers cut two of the protesters free about 10am before taking them to Traralgon for questioning. A spokesman for the power station said emergency procedures were activated during the protest. Loy Yang Power owns and operates a 2000-megawatt power station and an adjoining brown coalmine.

A spokeswoman for the activists, Michaela Stubbs, said the action was intended to send a message to APEC leaders meeting in Sydney this week. "The Asia Pacific Economic [Co-operation] forum is simply failing when it comes to stopping climate change," Ms Stubbs said.

"What we want to see is strong, short-term greenhouse gas emission targets. "APEC is talking about non-committed aspirational targets and this is inadequate to address the problem." - with Sarah-Jane Collins and Reko Rennie

