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French police fire tear gas on anti-G-8 protestors
Annemasse, June 01: Tens of thousands of anti-globalisation protestors set off on marches today, as French police fired tear gas to stop demonstrators blocking a road to a resort hosting a summit of world leaders.
Annemasse, June 01: Tens of thousands of anti-globalisation protestors set off on marches today, as French police fired tear gas to stop demonstrators blocking a road to a resort hosting a summit of world leaders.
Carrying anti-war banners and beating drums, some 1,500 protestors tried to block a road near the town of Thonon, the route for some delegations heading for the Group of Eight (G-8) summit in the lakeside spa of Evian.
Other anti-G-8 protestors rampaged overnight through the nearby Swiss city of Geneva, smashing shop windows and hurling firebombs at government buildings.
The main anti-G-8 protest began around 0800 GMT, with tens of thousands setting off on marches from Geneva and the French town of Annemasse to air a multitude of grievances against the policies of the world's richest countries.
"I'm here to defend moral values -- sharing, equality, peace in the world," said Katia, from Geneva, as she marched behind banners expressing hopes such as "no G-8, no social cuts, no capitalism" or "end the occupation of Iraq -- free Palestine."
Police kept a low profile as the protest, headed by a long white banner saying "G-8, illegitimate", began in a carnival atmosphere from the downtown English garden park on Lake Geneva.
It filed past the Chic rue de Rhone shopping street, whose entrance was blocked by around 30 riot police backed by a water cannon, and headed east towards the border with France, about 10 km away.
Bureau Report
Other anti-G-8 protestors rampaged overnight through the nearby Swiss city of Geneva, smashing shop windows and hurling firebombs at government buildings.
The main anti-G-8 protest began around 0800 GMT, with tens of thousands setting off on marches from Geneva and the French town of Annemasse to air a multitude of grievances against the policies of the world's richest countries.
"I'm here to defend moral values -- sharing, equality, peace in the world," said Katia, from Geneva, as she marched behind banners expressing hopes such as "no G-8, no social cuts, no capitalism" or "end the occupation of Iraq -- free Palestine."
Police kept a low profile as the protest, headed by a long white banner saying "G-8, illegitimate", began in a carnival atmosphere from the downtown English garden park on Lake Geneva.
It filed past the Chic rue de Rhone shopping street, whose entrance was blocked by around 30 riot police backed by a water cannon, and headed east towards the border with France, about 10 km away.
Bureau Report