NZ university students offer reward for arrest of Rice

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, July 25 (Chinese media) -- New Zealand police on Friday

warned the Auckland University Students' Association over a "bounty" it has put

out for a citizen's arrest of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Rice is scheduled to arrive in Auckland on Friday night, in the first such

high-level visit to take place in almost a decade.

Activists plan to protest against the visit, and have called for Rice to be

indicted for war crimes and for her country to pullout of Iraq, Radio New

Zealand reported.

The students association has also promised any student 5,000 NZ dollars

(about 3,700 U.S. dollars) if they successfully carry out the arrest of Rice.

Association President David Do said though a successful citizen' s arrest

of Rice seems unlikely, the challenge is not a prank, but is a statement of

strong feelings against what the United States has done to the people of Iraq.

Police District Commander Superintendent Brett England said the challenge

is irresponsible and anyone who attempts to penetrate police lines of security

could face serious consequences. He is calling for the challenge to be withdrawn

immediately.

Condoleezza Rice will hold talks with Prime Minister Helen Clark and

Foreign Affairs Minister Winson Peters on Saturday, in which New Zealand will

push its case for free trade talks.

Other issues will include Fiji, Afghanistan, the nuclear issue on the

Korean Peninsula, counter-terrorism and regional matters.

Rice will also meet with National Party leader John Key.