IMF and World Bank scale down meeting

The heads of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund have agreed to scale back their annual meeting in Washington because of fears over anti-capitalist protests.

The two lending organisations said in a statement yesterday that their annual autumn meeting would be limited to the weekend of September 29-30.

Originally, they had planned to meet a few days before that weekend and conclude on October 3.

The IMF and World Bank said they "fully share the interest of the US authorities" in ensuring the least possible disruption to the city.

A spokesman for Mayor Anthony A Williams hailed the decision.

"It’s going to help us eliminate inconveniences to residents and commuters," Tony Bullock said. "It’s going to reduce costs to taxpayers."

Protests against the organisations had been planned for September 28 through October 4, and Washington police have been preparing a massive security operation. Police are expecting about 40,000 demonstrators.

District of Columbia officials have asked the US Government to underwrite the costs of providing security. Executive Assistant Police Chief Terrance Gainer said the city would seek roughly $38m to pay for policing the two-day event.