Prisoners get weekend off for Sydney APEC summit

SYDNEY, Aug 24 (Reuters) Authorities in Australia will give about 200 prisoners a weekend off next month to clear out jail cells in case they are needed during an upcoming summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.

Thousands of protesters are planning to rally in Sydney during the meeting, with Australian police given extra powers to arrest troublemakers and hold them in jail until the APEC summit is over.

The New South Wales state Attorney-General John Hatzistergos said criminals serving weekend detention in Sydney would be allowed to spend the weekend at home during APEC under state plans to ensure up to 500 jail cells are available.

''No-one is getting off,'' Hatzistergos told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio, adding those on periodic detention would not have their sentences cut.

Leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, including US President George W Bush, China's Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin, will attend the summit in Sydney September 7 to 9.

Australian courts can sentence people convicted of non-serious crimes to spend weekends in jail, allowing them to stay at work or home during the working week.

Police are planning a major security operation for the APEC summit. More than 3,000 police will be on duty and Australia's military will patrol Sydney Harbour.

Police have also brought in a high-powered water cannon if protests get too rowdy, while a 5 km (3 mile) barrier fence almost 3 metres (10 ft) high will ring central Sydney and the APEC venues to ensure extra security.

REUTERS SKB RAI0859