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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-1345678,00.html
quote:SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon attorney general cleared the
way Tuesday for state police and prosecutors to question foreign
visitors as part of the federal terrorism investigation, but Portland
police stood by their refusal to do the interrogations.
Attorney General Hardy Myers said state law doesn't forbid his
agency or State Police ``from conducting such interviews as part
of a criminal investigation to identify and apprehend people who
have conspired, or are conspiring, to commit crimes.''
He directed his Criminal Division to ``assist the federal
government in the interview process.'' He said his advice affects
only state investigators and local police must depend on their
own counsel.
Portland police have refused a request from U.S. Attorney
General John Ashcroft to interview foreign visitors on grounds
that it would violate state privacy laws.
And even with Myers giving the go-ahead for the interviews,
Portland Police Chief Mark Kroeker said late Tuesday that city
officials had not changed their minds.
``The mayor and I have made a decision not to conduct the
interviews requested,'' he said. ``We aren't doing this to make
some point, but to adhere to the law.''
Kroeker declined to say what on the list of questions ran counter
to the city attorney's interpretation of Oregon law.
Ashcroft has sought assistance from local law enforcement
officers across the country in conducting voluntary interviews of
some 5,000 people. Most are Middle Eastern men in the United
States on nonimmigrant visas who hold passports from
countries where the United States has identified terrorist cells.
Michael Mosman, U.S. attorney for Oregon, has said he
believes the interviews are legal. Local agencies, however, have
the right to refuse to help. The idea behind the request was to
reduce the load on the FBI, he said.
A list of 200 names was given to Portland police.
The Justice Department recently sent a narrower list of
questions to Portland city officials, eliminating a number of
questions that had troubled Portland's city attorney. |
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