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G20 protest turns violent in Melbourne, Australia
Violent clashes erupted between police and protesters in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday as demonstrators gathered outside meetings of some of the world's top finance czars.
Many protestors at the Group of 20 meetings wielded bottles and rocks, while police on horseback used batons to try and subdue the crowds.
The rally had been planned as a peaceful demonstration against poverty, but quickly turned into a street brawl.
However, there were no serious injuries and only two arrests were made. One officer was taken to hospital after a steel barricade was toppled on top of him, breaking his wrist. Several others suffered minor scratches and bruises in the clashes, but continued working.
About 3,000 people gathered for a rally at a city park around noon, then marched on the meeting of the G20 officers. However, most of the violence appeared to center around a group of about 200 activists wearing white coveralls with red bandanas tied around their faces.
The group was more aggressive than the rest, running to various locations and challenging police before retreating.
Further arrests were expected by the end of the day as police continued investigating, said Victoria state Chief Commissioner Christine Dixon.
"They threw missiles and rocks, ... bins -- anything they could get their hands on they threw it at police and damaged property," she told reporters. "We have not had anything like this, any kind of violent demonstration in the last six years."
The top officials from Europe, Asia and Latin America were meeting in a plush hotel -- a stark contrast to the grim scene outside where heavily armoured officers used shields and batons to keep demonstrators out of the hotel.
Activists ripped apart traffic barricades and spray painted slogans on at least one building, according to reports from The Associated Press.
At one point, roughly 200 demonstrators dumped glass bottles and plastic garbage bins on police officers standing near a police car.
The officers took cover behind police vehicles until mounted officers stormed toward the demonstrators and drove them away.
Demonstrators also threw smoke grenades at mounted officers, but were beaten back by officers with batons.
Australian treasurer and chair of the G20 meetings, Peter Costello, blamed the worst violence on the small percentage of militant protesters.
"There is a hardcore militant and violent element among these protesters," Costello told a news conference after the day's deliberations.
"These are people who want to trash the streets of Melbourne and trash the reputation of Australia," he said. "We won't stand for that."
The finance ministers and central bankers discussed the global energy situation, the need to work to revive stalled world trade talks, rising global interest rates and other factors affecting the world's economy, Costello told reporters.
Representatives from 19 countries and the European Union, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund attended the talks.
The G20 includes the Group of Seven advanced industrial countries, the EU as well as China, Brazil, India, Russia, South Korea, Argentina, Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was one of the financial officers taking part in the two-day meeting.
With files from The Associated Press
Source: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061118/melbourne_protest_061118/20061118?hub=CTVNewsAt11