Minister says tensions high at WTO talks

The Minister for Agriculture has said that tensions are high both inside at the WTO talks and on the streets outside.

Mary Coughlan is in Hong Kong for the talks where clashes between protesters and police are continuing.

The street battles are taking place against the back-drop of tough negotiations to try and broker a global deal.

EU trade chief Peter Mandelson says the draft text lacks balance but he's willing to discuss the contentious issue of an end date for export subsidies.

Speaking from Hong Kong, Mary Coughlan said the commissioners are under enormous pressure to reach an agreement while being locked inside the conference room to ensure that protestors, who earlier breached the barricades, cannot gain access to them.