Athens port closed for Olympic security installations; protesters call it privacy invasion

ATHENS, Greece -- Athens' main port was sealed for two hours Tuesday to allow divers to install an underwater monitoring system as part of an Olympic security network that protesters contend is a privacy invasion.

The fiber-optic cables are a key element of an electronic web of cameras, sensors and other intelligence-gathering devices designed to help safeguard the Aug. 13-29 Olympics. Greece is spending $1.24 billion on Olympic security.

Although the devices are considered necessary for security, several groups said they will demonstrate against their use. Anti-globalization groups said they would protest outside Greece's parliament. Some political parties also have expressed concerns.

Police officials Tuesday tried to reassure Athenians that the electronic monitoring system, which includes a blimp and thousands of infrared and high-resolution cameras, will not violate privacy.

The 200-foot blimp, which carries chemical "sniffers" and high resolution cameras, will start flying over the city this week, police said.

"The security measures are being implemented with complete respect for human rights and according to the guidelines set out by the agency responsible for privacy and data protection," police spokesman Lefteris Ikonomou said.

Groups opposed to the security measures, including a group called Campaign Anti-2004, said Tuesday at police headquarters that they would demonstrate in protest outside parliament.

"For us the Olympic Games are not welcome. The culture of the Olympic Games is not ours," the groups said in a statement.

The underwater cables at the port of Piraeus will help secure an area that will host one of the world's largest gatherings of cruise ships during the Olympics.

About 15,000 visitors, state officials and dignitaries will be housed aboard at least eight cruise ships - including the world's largest passenger ship, the Queen Mary 2. A number of luxury yachts also are expected.

High-tech systems also will be used at Athens' airport, where workers at the main operations center will be subject to retinal scans.