300 are arrested at G7 summit protest

US POLICE arrested some 300 anti-globalisation protesters yesterday, thwarting their attempts to block city traffic during a G7 summit in Washington.

Protesters met in a downtown park and marched in the streets for two blocks before being stopped by police in riot gear who penned in the group into one city block and arrested everyone inside.

Police spokeswoman Wyseola Smith said 298 people had been arrested, and more arrests were underway in Freedom Plaza, a square close to the White House.

The demonstrators, many of whom waved black flags and wore bandannas to cover their faces, were far outnumbered by police in riot gear on foot, motorcycles, bicycles and horseback.

One protester said she saw several people struck in the head, and criticised the police for being heavy-handed.

"These are people trying to protest against a system that represses people around the world, and their response is repression on the streets here too," said Flora Little, 38, from Richmond, Virginia.

Protesters moved in groups of 40 to 50 amid whirring sirens and beating drums. "This is what a police state looks like," they chanted.

"They are not letting people assemble. It's incredible brutality," said organiser Andrew Willis.

G7 finance ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States were set to meet in the mid-afternoon at a government guest house directly across from the White House under heavy security.

Another protest that will target the World Bank and IMF buildings in Washington is planned for today. Organisers say they will attempt to prevent officials from exiting the buildings after the lenders' annual meetings.