Australia red-faced after New Zealand leader frisked at Sydney airport ( 2003-11-24 16:30) (AFP)
An Australian minister voiced
embarrassment and regret Monday over an incident in which New Zealand Prime
Minister Helen Clark was frisked for explosives by security agents at Sydney
Airport.
"It was obviously an error, a bad error, it's embarrassing, we would hope
this doesn't happen again," Tourism Minister Joe Hockey said of the incident,
which happened late last month when Clark was transitting through Sydney on her
way to visit New Zealand troops in the Middle East.
Clark revealed the episode during an interview on New Zealand radio Monday
and said she believed there would have been "an uproar" if Australian Prime
Minister John Howard had been similarly frisked for explosives in New Zealand.
Clark said she had been randomly selected for scanning by a hand-held wand
that picks up traces of explosive on clothes and skin, even though security
officials had been told who she was.
The New Zealand leader said she had not made any complaint because she
understood the need for strict airport security.
"Having said that, it's most unusual to stop a head of government," she
said.