- Innocent Millbrook Resort, Queenstown guests and visitors
were completely unaware that their every holiday move was under top secret
surveillance yesterday.
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- No, former United States President Bill Clinton had not
returned, but the high-level security surrounding this week's visitors
has rumours flying around the Wakatipu.
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- Up to 30 US Secret Service and special agents have been
swarming around Millbrook and two Queenstown restaurants over the past
few days. They are believed to be protecting about 20 high-powered senior
American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and British secret service officials.
Mr Clinton discounted, rumours began flying on Monday that high-profile
US CIA director George Tenet was among the group.
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- Any slightly suspicious camera-toting visitors, normally
not out of place on a Queenstown holiday, were politely bailed up and briefly
interrogated by special agents wearing ear-piece wiring before being asked
to leave Millbrook yesterday. More agents patrolled the golf course in
carts.
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- Media and photographers escorted from the grounds were
told that a group of "overseas officials" were holding low level
talks at the resort.
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- "Because of the heightened security awareness since
September 11, police are providing some security," Otago Rural Area
controller Inspector Phil Jones, of Queenstown, said.
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- It was not police policy to comment about security measures
but he confirmed that Mr Clinton was not among the group.
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- The group flew in to Queenstown Airport direct from an
overseas destination on Saturday in two Gulfstream 5 jets, one a US Air
Force jet.
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- The Southland Times understands the official group includes
about 20 top security intelligence heads from around the world holding
an International Affairs Forum at Millbrook.
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- Between 25 and 30 American and New Zealand special protection
squad police Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) agents wearing International
Affairs Forum (IAF) badges, some also wearing small gold star pins, have
been vetting visitors in and out of the resort, checking identification
and car registration numbers.
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- Gibbston Valley Winery's restaurant was crawling with
special agents late last week.
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- The winery and its staff were thoroughly checked out
in preparation for a private dinner on Sunday night.
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- Special protection agents were understood to significantly
outnumber the 20, mostly senior, American and British officials who dined
at the winery.
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- A black CIA surveillance-style van was parked near Millbrook
Resort's Health and Fitness Centre on Monday.
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- A similar white surveillance van arrived hours ahead
of the group's dinner at Arthurs Point on Monday night. About 20 special
agents, some of whom appeared to be armed, surrounded the restaurant grounds.
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- Sunday's guests were "obviously some high-level
top secret guests", Gibbston Winery general manager Ross McKay said.
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- "We don't know who they were and we were not advised,
but we didn't see any high-profile people.
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- "We were checked out to a fairly high degree,"
Mr McKay said.
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- Gibbston Valley's wine obviously got the clearance -
several security agents returned yesterday to buy some.
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- http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,1131318a11,FF.html
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