Police breaking up finance meeting protests
Police used tear gas and water cannons to break up a protest by scores of demonstrators protesting at the annual gathering of the Inter-American Development Bank in Santiago, Chile.
About 150 protesters chanting slogans against globalization tried yesterday to march to a convention centre where the financial gathering was in its second day. Police moved in quickly and dispersed them.
Police officers, some on motorcycles, chased the fleeing demonstrators through the crowded streets. Reporters saw at least five protesters being detained but police would not give a figure.
Elsewhere in the city, police in full riot gear clashed with hooded demonstrators also protesting against the bank in front of a university campus.
The demonstrators hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails at police and erected a fire barricade to block traffic. Police rapidly cleared the area with tear gas and water cannons.
There were no reports of detentions or injuries.
Protests have been held daily since last week against the conference organized by the region’s largest financial institute. The protests are organized by leftists, students and other anti-globalization activists.
The conference was closing today.
