Australia eases protest restrictions in Sydney after nearly 2 months

ISTANBUL

Australian authorities lifted extraordinary restrictions Tuesday on protests in New South Wales (NSW), marking an end to nearly two months of tightened control on public assembly in the state, local media reported.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said he no longer required the special powers granted after the Dec. 14 mass shooting at a Jewish festival on Sydney's Bondi Beach which left 15 people dead and dozens injured, which had enabled police to limit or block protests in designated parts of Sydney, SBS News reported.

"I'm satisfied the conditions that led to the extension last time do not exist now, and I'm more than happy for (police) to work with protesters," Lanyon said.

The restrictions were first imposed on Christmas Eve.

The decision comes a week after police violently broke up protests against the Australian visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Police and protesters clashed as thousands of people took to streets across Australia to protest the visit.

Civil liberties advocates and protest organizers have launched a constitutional challenge in the NSW Court of Appeal, seeking to prevent similar emergency powers from being used if a future terror attack is declared.