Thousands protest over Bush visit

Hundreds of protesters hurled fire-bombs and stones at police today as they tried to reach the conference centre where Nato leaders were meeting in Istanbul.

Police used tear gas and water cannons to stop the crowd, and dozens of people were injured.

The clashes took place in two areas about two miles from a barricaded zone in the centre of the city where Nato leaders were meeting. The leaders include US President George W Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac.

Tonight, a bomb went off in front of a building used by the Defence Ministry in downtown Ankara, shattering windows, in an apparent attack to protest at the Nato summit.

No injuries were reported, state television said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but leftist groups have carried out several similar bombings in the runup to the summit.

In Istanbul, 26 police officers were injured, according to Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah.

About 20 civilians were also hurt, local officials said.

In the most violent protest, in Istanbul’s Okmeydani neighbourhood, about 2,000 demonstrators flipped cars over and hurled fire-bombs at police. Police fired water cannons and tear gas at the protesters and beat some with clubs. An armoured personnel carrier moved through the street where small fires burned.

Another crowd of protesters gathered nearby and threw rocks at police who used pepper spray to disperse the group.

Police said 44 protesters were detained, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Turkey dramatically boosted security before Bush’s arrival and in preparation for the Nato summit, which began today.

F-16 warplanes patrolled the skies of Istanbul. AWACS early warning planes are helping to monitor a no-fly zone over the city.

More than 23,000 police are on duty for the summit. Turkish commandos are patrolling the Bosporus in boats with mounted machine guns.

There have been daily protests against the summit and Bush’s visit.

Greenpeace activists suspended themselves from a bridge spanning the Bosporus and were attempting to open a giant banner that said “Nukes out of Nato.” Greenpeace said 18 protesters were detained, including an Austrian, an Australian, and a Briton.