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Alert at New Zealand parliament over white powder

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-13 11:52

WELLINGTON -- Fire engines and ambulances raced to New Zealand's parliament building on Wednesday after a white powder scare in the building.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Helen Clark said several people were examined after an envelope with the powder in it was opened on the eighth floor, but they did not appear to have suffered any ill effects.

The eighth floor houses the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and some of Clark's staff have offices there as well, Radio New Zealand reported.

Clark's office is on the ninth floor, but she was not there on Wednesday morning.

The spokesman said the eighth floor had been evacuated and was being decontaminated.

No other floors were evacuated and the building was operating as normal.

The envelope is understood to have been opened by one of Clark's staff but the spokesman would not confirm it was addressed to the prime minister.