Ghost town Sydney struggles under APEC lockdown

AFP, September, 2007

SYDNEY (AFP) — As helicopters skim overhead and police boats patrol the harbour, tourists can only gaze from a distance at Sydney's Opera House, perhaps the most iconic image of Australia's biggest city.

A concrete and steel security fence slices through the harbourside streets, the deserted squares telling the story of Australia's most stringent security lockdown in its history as Sydney hosts a summit of Asia Pacific leaders.

"I came the wrong day," said Sanaz Mohandessy, standing near the barrier 50 metres (yards) from the famed venue with its shelled roof.

A 24-year-old Iranian working for an insurance company, she said she would have to return next week instead.

The sweeping security measures were put in place to protect leaders of the 21-member...