A protest group planning to march on the first day of the Republican National Convention doesn't have grounds to challenge a conditional permit issued by police, the St. Paul city attorney said Friday.

In a letter, John Choi rebutted the group's claim that their appeal should be heard by the City Council.

The group, the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, filed an appeal Thursday that said police are stalling the permit process by not giving the group details for a march route that will get demonstrators within "sight and sound" of the Xcel Energy Center.

Police issued a conditional permit as a "good-faith statement of intent" to accommodate the group's planning demands, Choi said in the letter. Police will decide on an exact route no later than May 31, but said they cannot determine a route until they have more details about convention security and other issues.

The group says it expects up to 50,000 protesters and fears that there won't be enough time to sue if it deems the city's decisions unworkable.

Choi said the city's permit ordinance allows for an appeal only if an application has been denied. Because there was a conditional permit granted, the group's claim is unfounded, he wrote.

"We will talk with our attorneys and see where to go from there," Marie Braun, a coalition member, said.

"I want to repeat, the city continues to be willing to work with the coalition on this matter," Choi wrote. "The city has extended unprecedented access to the coalition by its commitment to allow a parade within sight and sound of the Xcel Energy Center."

The convention will be held Sept. 1-4.

CHRIS HAVENS