Australian Government trying to stop free speech to protect Cheney visit.

AN anti-war demonstration planned for tonight's arrival of US Vice President Dick Cheney in Sydney could go ahead even if declared illegal by police.

Police said plans by The Stop the War Coalition to gather at Sydney's Town Hall at 5.30pm (AEDT) and march to the US consulate could be illegal.

Police were today negotiating with the protesters in an attempt to relocate and reschedule the rally, which would bring peak-hour city traffic to a standstill.

But protesters said they had legally lodged their notice of intention to march through the city and only court intervention would stop the march taking place.

Mr Cheney is to arrive in Sydney late tonight for a three-day visit.

NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Terry Collins said protesters had not had their formal application for the Town Hall protest approved.

"It hasn't been in the seven-day time frame that it's supposed to so it would be an illegal protest in any case," Mr Collins said.

"So the only way they can get around this is to take us to the Supreme Court to get some variation to that because otherwise it will be an illegal protest and we will deal with that appropriately," Mr Collins told ABC Radio.

He said Sydney protests planned for tonight and tomorrow morning were aimed at causing major disruption.

"What the protest groups propose to do, is that any location where Cheney has engagements they intend to turn up and actually disrupt and cause as much problems as they can for the people in and around the area," he said.

However, Stop the War Coalition spokeswoman Anna Samson said the group had planned a lawful protest.

"They (police) are the ones that need to get an injunction," Ms Samson said.

"We don't need to get permission as such to hold a demonstration.

"Now of course we do our best to try and facilitate a peaceful demonstration... but if the police are going to make it particularly difficult, or to close off those very legal avenues that we've taken to try and make our voices heard, then I guess that's up to them."

The Stop the War Coalition is also planning a demonstration tomorrow at 9.30am (AEDT) in The Rocks and on March 17 to mark the fourth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war.

Mr Collins said the areas between Cumberland, Gloucester and Essex Streets at The Rocks would be locked down during Mr Cheney's visit and clearways would be in place in and around Sydney until Sunday.

"This is the biggest operation outside of George W. Bush's visit here some time ago," he said.

"He (Cheney) is considered one of the highest risks we've had since September 11."

However, he said there was no credible intelligence to say that a threat was likely.

February 22, 2007 - 6:35PM

Protesters demonstrating against US Vice-President Dick Cheney's
Australian visit have clashed with police outside Sydney's Town
Hall.

Police attempting to prevent the protesters from marching down
George Street scuffled with dozens of the demonstrators.

A wall of officers, including mounted police, were attempting to
push the crowd away from the roadway and into Town Hall Square.

Earlier, the protesters hinted that the demonstration could go
ahead even if declared illegal.

Police said plans by The Stop the War Coalition to gather at
Sydney's Town Hall at 5.30pm and march to the US consulate could be
illegal.

Police negotiated with the protesters in an attempt to relocate
and reschedule the rally, which would bring peak-hour city traffic
to a standstill.

But protesters said they had legally lodged their notice of
intention to march through the city and only court intervention
would stop the march taking place.

Mr Cheney is to arrive in Sydney late tonight for a three-day
visit.

NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Terry Collins said protesters had
not had their formal application for the Town Hall protest
approved.

"It hasn't been in the seven-day time frame that it's supposed
to so it would be an illegal protest in any case," Mr Collins
said.

"So the only way they can get around this is to take us to the
Supreme Court to get some variation to that because otherwise it
will be an illegal protest and we will deal with that
appropriately," Mr Collins told ABC Radio.

He said Sydney protests planned for tonight and tomorrow morning
were aimed at causing major disruption.

"What the protest groups propose to do, is that any location
where Cheney has engagements they intend to turn up and actually
disrupt and cause as much problems as they can for the people in
and around the area," he said.

However, Stop the War Coalition spokeswoman Anna Samson said the
group had planned a lawful protest.

"They (police) are the ones that need to get an injunction," Ms
Samson said.

"We don't need to get permission as such to hold a
demonstration.

"Now of course we do our best to try and facilitate a peaceful
demonstration ... but if the police are going to make it
particularly difficult, or to close off those very legal avenues
that we've taken to try and make our voices heard, then I guess
that's up to them."

The Stop the War Coalition is also planning a demonstration
tomorrow at 9.30am (AEDT) in The Rocks and on March 17 to mark the
fourth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war.

Mr Collins said the areas between Cumberland, Gloucester and
Essex Streets at The Rocks would be locked down during Mr Cheney's
visit and clearways would be in place in and around Sydney until
Sunday.

"This is the biggest operation outside of George W. Bush's visit
here some time ago," he said.

"He (Cheney) is considered one of the highest risks we've had
since September 11."

However, he said there was no credible intelligence to say that
a threat was likely.