Violent riots erupt near ceremony

THOUSANDS of anti-war demonstrators crowded the streets near the signing ceremony yesterday, many clashing with police who fired tear gas to keep them away from where the leaders were gathered.

Shop and car windows were smashed as riots erupted and police chased hooded protesters through the streets.

The violence came after a group of protesters marching with about 3,000 demonstrators threw petrol bombs and red paint at riot squads, injuring one police officer.

After throwing rocks at the British embassy, some demonstrators tore up paving stones and hurled them at officers guarding the building.

More than 30 people were arrested. In addition to the injured policeman, one man was taken to hospital with a shard of glass in his eye.

The protest and march to the British and American embassies was one of several planned in the city and the number of demonstrators was expected to grow.

Police had feared the rallies would turn violent as protesters vent their anger at the presence of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other pro-war leaders, such as Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Spanish leader Aznar.

More than 10,000 police officers have been deployed for the two-day EU meeting, setting up a security cordon around the city centre.

EU leaders fear the rioting would detract from the historic resonance of the ceremony signing up Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta.

Mr Blair earlier yesterday called on demonstrators to respect the decision to go to war in Iraq as protests at a European summit exploded into violence.

The Greek capital Athens saw its worst rioting for 30 years as protesters took to the streets.

Britain was a key target of the protest, with the embassy pelted with stones and a banner reading “Killers, Imperialists” draped over the offices of British Airways.

Up to 15,000 police were confronting thousands of rioters.

Mr Blair said he respected the views of those who had said the war was wrong.

“It is an important democratic right that people have in Europe that they can take to the streets,” Mr Blair said.

“It is a right that people in Iraq have today but did not have for 30 years under Saddam,” he said.