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G8 SUMMIT: Protesters and Police Clash in G8 Marches

Posted on: Tuesday, 5 July 2005, 12:00 CDT

Police and anti-capitalist demonstrators were involved in a series of clashes yesterday as protests were stepped up across Scotland ahead of the G8 summit.

Hundreds of protesters forced the closure of shops and businesses and brought the centre of Edinburgh to a standstill.

Riot police were drafted in amid fears that the demonstration could erupt into violence.

And there were several minor scuffles across the city centre, with police drawing their batons.

The protests came as preparations were continuing at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire for the summit of world leaders, which starts on Wednesday.

Demonstrations are taking place all week in a bid to put pressure on the G8 leaders.

In Edinburgh, missiles were thrown and weapons recovered as Lothian and Borders Police warned disorderly behaviour was escalating.

Police attempted to force back protesters at several locations in the city but there were no reports of large-scale disorder or arrests.

The demonstration had been billed as the Carnival For Full Enjoyment.

A heavy police presence, drawn from forces across Britain, ensured protesters were contained away from the main financial district where the event had been due to congregate at noon.

Much of the west end of the city was closed to traffic as the protesters - many clad in colourful fancy dress and others in black with their faces masked - marched and danced through the streets to the sound of samba drums and whistles.

In one stand-off officers managed to corral more than 200 protesters into a narrow lane, Canning Street, off the city centre for several hours.

A similar stand-off took place on Princes Street itself, where dozens of police vans containing riot police were stationed Police in full riot gear then set up lines, including a 40strong wall of officers outside the National Galleries of Scotland.

Protesters were held in small pockets along with tourists and shoppers.

Police, who warned city centre businesses to close and keep staff inside, said the demonstration was 'unacceptable'.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Dickinson said: 'They have been determined to challenge the community and the police service for their own selfish agenda to inflict disruption and significant disorder.

'We will deal robustly with anyone who behaves in this manner and deploy all the officers we have at our disposal to stop them inflicting mayhem on our communities.'

Campaigners led by Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson also arrived in Edinburgh yesterday ahead of the Long Walk to Justice and Live 8 concert in the city tomorrow.

They arrived at Edinburgh Airport in a special Virgin plane to press home the drive to make poverty history, before the start of the summit at Gleneagles.

Sir Richard was accompanied on the flight by pop star Natalie Imbruglia and was met on the ground by comedian Eddie Izzard and musician and poverty campaigner Midge Ure.

Sir Richard said: 'We've got planes, we've got trains and we thought it was important to bring people from America, from Africa and from London to Scotland.'

Security was stepped up around the Gleneagles Hotel and the nearby town of Auchterarder where thousands of campaigners are expected to turn up later in the week.

About 10,000 officers from all over the country are policing the event, which will see world leaders including George Bush and Tony Blair meet at the hotel, protected by a five-mile ring of steel.

Throughout yesterday, cars on minor roads in the area were stopped by police and the drivers asked where they were going

Source: Birmingham Post; Birmingham (UK)

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