Security swoop near NZ embassy

By FRAN O'SULLIVAN assistant editor

Security services detained a suspicious car full of people outside the New Zealand Embassy in Washington as the terror spread into the exclusive diplomatic enclave where New Zealand ambassador Jim Bolger resides.

The former Prime Minister - who is due to return to New Zealand in early January - said security was extraordinarily tight around our Washington Embassy early this morning after the terror attacks.

"The security forces swooped on a car just along the road from us," he said at 3.30 am New Zealand time.

"It is just awful. It is the most tragic situation."

For Mr Bolger and his family, the reality had struck home that the New Zealand Embassy's prime positioning on Washington's plush Observatory Circle, flanked by the plush Georgian style residences of two of the most powerful people in the United States - deputy president Dick Cheney and former first lady Hillary Clinton - had increased the personal risk for the ambassador and staff.

Mr Bolger said he had sent New Zealand diplomatic representatives and embassy staff home to the suburbs to get them out of harm's way.

When I called him early this morning, characteristically his first thoughts were for his wife, Joan, and other New Zealanders in the US.

Joan Bolger had cancelled lunch with Jeanette Howard, wife of the Australian Prime Minister. Mr Bolger was surprised the Herald had managed to get a phone line into Washington.

The New Zealand Embassy had experienced considerable difficulty getting in touch with other official contacts within the US Capital.

We spent some time cross-checking just what the situation was within the United States. It appeared that those of us getting up to watch the unbelievable spectacle on television in New Zealand had a better fix on what was happening than our man on the ground.

"It is just unbelievable," he said.

Mr Bolger advised New Zealanders that it would be very difficult to make telephone contact with relatives and colleagues during the next day or so.