Davos protest turns violent
Protest in Geneva against Davos turns violent
Also In The News
|
World number one Rafael Nadal has set up a mouth-watering clash with number two Roger Federer after an amazing Australian Open semi-final victory. |  |
Saturday, 31, Jan 2009 06:37
A protest in Geneva against the annual Davos economic meeting turned violent after bottles were thrown at police.
Geneva authorities had denied the anti-capitalist protestors a permit to hold their demonstration but the group went ahead with a march toward the city centre.
Witnesses at the scene said the event was largely peaceful until police blocked the crowd from entering the centre.
Bottles and fireworks were reportedly thrown from within the 1,000-strong group and police responded with tear gas and a water cannon.
Protestors carried banners that said "You are the crisis", accusing the delegates of being the cause of the problem rather than the solution.
Protester Alex Heideger, a member of the Davos Green Party, told Rueters: "It's the same people who came last year and said the world economic situation is fine, and now we're in a financial crisis. Now it's the taxpayer who has to solve the whole problem.
Geneva police said about 60 people were detained temporarily for checks but there have been no arrests.