Govt convenes meeting of C'Wealth countries envoys on Sept 9

New Delhi, Aug 28 (PTI) India has convened a meeting of
Heads of Missions of 71 Commonwealth countries in India's
national capital New Delhi on September nine to allay their
security fears for the 2010 games here.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of lurking security
concerns that made the English team to withdraw from World
Badminton meet in Hyderabad and the terror attack on Sri
Lankan cricketers in Lahore earlier this year.

Top security experts in the country will brief the envoys
about the steps being taken by the government to ensure
foolproof security during the fortnight-long extravaganza so
that they could convey the message back home, a top India Home
Ministry official Friday said.

India Home Minister P Chidambaram is likely to address
the Heads of Missions at the meeting.

A two-day meeting of security commanders of the
Commonwealth countries will also be held here on September 23
and 24 for a similar exercise.
"Security commanders of the 71 participating nations will
meet on September 23-24 to discuss security measures for the
athletes, games officials and visitors. We will brief them the
details security plan and how we intend to protect each
guest," the official said.
India Home Secretary G K Pillai will address the meeting
on September 24.

Home Ministry sources said the government did not want to
take any chance on security matters in the prestigious games
particularly after the England team withdrew from the World
Badminton Championships in Hyderabad early this month
following reported threat of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

"A lot of issues, particularly country's prestige, are
involved with the game. We do not want any situation where any
country can think of pulling out of the Commonwealth games.
That is why we are taking precautionary steps much ahead of
the games," the official said.

The government is also taking note of the brazen terror
attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on March 3
which left eight persons dead and over 20 others injured.

Last month Delhi Lieutenant Governor Tejinder Khanna
briefed the Commonwealth Games Federation about steps being
taken to strengthen security in the city in the run up to the
sporting event.

The Commonwealth nations' security agency 'Intelligence
Risk' also submits regular reports on the steps taken by the
host country (India) for ensuring safe and secure environment
for the Games. PTI ACB
DDC


The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged
information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please
notify the sender immediately and destroy
all copies of this message and any attachments contained in it.