Students besiege Australian mission

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Students laid seige to the honorary Australian consulate here for the third straight day on Sunday.

The students, grouped in Muhammadiyah Students Association, camped in front of the consulate on Jl. Kartini, blocking all access to the building.

They demanded that all Australian troops grouped in the International Force for East Timor be withdrawn.

"We demand an answer from prime minister Howard through the Australian consul," Misran, the protest organizer, said.

However, the consulate was empty on Sunday and students said that the honorary consul, Fraser John Cargill, had fled the scene.

"It's empty, there's only the security guard. These means that we have occupied the building. Even the Australian flag is no longer flying and has been replaced with an Indonesian flag," Misran said enthusiastically. (39)