Clashes continue ahead of G8 summit

HUNDREDS of protesters clashed with police yesterday ahead of this week’s Group of Eight meeting, as anti-globalisation activists challenged attempts by security officials to keep them away from the summit town of Heiligendamm.

About 800 protesters demonstrated outside Rostock’s immigration office demanding “global freedom of movement and equal rights for all,” including refugees and asylum seekers. After a peaceful start, the demonstration turned violent and “some protesters started to throw bottles at officers,” police spokesman Lyder Behrens said.

The Website Spiegel Online reported a journalist was injured and four people were detained when 400 demonstrators clashed On Saturday, 3,000 black-hooded anti-G8 protesters had pelted police with rocks and bottles in Rostock. Authorities said more than 400 officers were injured, 30 of whom were hospitalised with broken bones and cuts. Organisers said 520 demonstrators were hurt, 20 of them seriously. More than 2,000 protesters were still in Rostock yesterday, police said.

The situation around Heiligendamm was calm yesterday ahead of the three-day meeting starting tomorrow, when German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host the leaders of Britain, France, Japan, Italy, Russia, Canada and the US for discussions on issues including global warming, aid to Africa and the world economy.

Germany is determined to avoid a repeat of the debilitating violence that has marred previous G8 summits, notably in Genoa, Italy, in 2001, where one protester was killed. It has reinforced its border controls ahead of the summit.