Australian security officials are staging a huge operation to guard the Commonwealth Games starting this week, and will be fully prepared although there are no specific threats, Attorney General Philip Ruddock said yesterday.

The security clampdown is comparable only to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, with 13,000 police and 2,500 defence personnel and private security guards either directly involved or on standby.

Australia's overall security threat level has not moved since it was set at medium soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. A close US ally, Australia sent troops to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Ruddock said powers which could be used to safeguard the Games included shooting down aircraft which fly into "exclusion zones" over areas like the Melbourne Cricket Ground, venue for the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics.

He added the number of visiting dignitaries from the 53 nations and 71 associations at the Games added an extra dimension to security planning.

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