Son of Scargill
17th March 2002, 13:57
Police battle with anti-globalisation protestors
12:44pm Sunday, 17th March 2002
Riot police have fought back anti-globalisation protestors in Barcelona following a peaceful march and rally by thousands of demonstrators.
Hours earlier European leaders wrapped up their summit on economic reforms.
Police say seven officers were injured, while at least three journalists, including a photographer, were hurt. One was struck by a rubber bullet.
Dozens of people were arrested. Witnesses say some 200 protestors began smashing windows and throwing molotov cocktails and rocks at riot police.
A police spokesman said: "We will have a full report later, but officers are authorised to use the force necessary to stop people from throwing molotov cocktails at them."
In one confrontation, rioters set a dustbin on fire and turned over a car. Police detained 20 of them.
Amid fears of rioting and possible terrorist attacks, leaders of 28 EU countries met in a heavily guarded compound outside the city for the two-day summit.
City officials estimate 250,000 people participated in Saturday's march, while the organisers put the figure at half a million.
The demonstrations were called by the umbrella organisation of protest groups: the Campaign Against a Europe of Capitalism and War. Marchers belonged to diverse organisations but aimed much of their wrath at globalisation and EUs plans to liberalise energy and financial markets.
Speakers told the crowd that European leaders put business interests ahead of concern for the millions of the world's poor who die of starvation each year.
© Copyright Ananova Ltd 2002, all rights reserved.
12:44pm Sunday, 17th March 2002
Riot police have fought back anti-globalisation protestors in Barcelona following a peaceful march and rally by thousands of demonstrators.
Hours earlier European leaders wrapped up their summit on economic reforms.
Police say seven officers were injured, while at least three journalists, including a photographer, were hurt. One was struck by a rubber bullet.
Dozens of people were arrested. Witnesses say some 200 protestors began smashing windows and throwing molotov cocktails and rocks at riot police.
A police spokesman said: "We will have a full report later, but officers are authorised to use the force necessary to stop people from throwing molotov cocktails at them."
In one confrontation, rioters set a dustbin on fire and turned over a car. Police detained 20 of them.
Amid fears of rioting and possible terrorist attacks, leaders of 28 EU countries met in a heavily guarded compound outside the city for the two-day summit.
City officials estimate 250,000 people participated in Saturday's march, while the organisers put the figure at half a million.
The demonstrations were called by the umbrella organisation of protest groups: the Campaign Against a Europe of Capitalism and War. Marchers belonged to diverse organisations but aimed much of their wrath at globalisation and EUs plans to liberalise energy and financial markets.
Speakers told the crowd that European leaders put business interests ahead of concern for the millions of the world's poor who die of starvation each year.
© Copyright Ananova Ltd 2002, all rights reserved.