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District of Columbia considers asking IMF, World Bank to
postpone meeting in wake of attacks
WASHINGTON (AP) - District of Columbia officials said that
they may ask the World Bank and International Monetary Fund
to postpone their fall meetings in the wake of the
terrorist attacks in Washington and New York.
The Sept. 29-30 meetings are expected to draw tens of
thousands of protesters, and intense security in the
nation's capital. Local police had been hoping for help
from other police forces, including the New York City
Police Department.
D.C. police officials are recommending that the meetings
be canceled or postponed, and Mayor Tony Williams will look
into the possibility of requesting a delay, spokesman Tony
Bullock said Tuesday.
IMF and World Bank officials already have curtailed their
meetings, trimming the discussions from a week to just two
days because of the planned protests.
Thomas Dawson, the IMF's chief spokesman, said last week
that the agency was concerned about the potential for
violence from the more radical demonstrators, who have
vowed to try to break down security fences and prevent the
meetings from taking place.



120424 sep 01GMT