Protests Wind Down at World Economic Conference
Protests subsided outside a World Economic Forum conference today after two days of violent clashes, with the number of anti-globalization protesters blockading the event down to a few hundred from 2,000.
The weakened blockade meant delegates could easily get into the city center Crown Casino complex where the three-day WEF Asia-Pacific forum was being held, with delegates’ buses avoiding the entrances where protesters were concentrated.
This contrasted with Monday, when 200 of 800 delegates could not get into the venue due to the blockade, and others used boats and helicopters to get to the meeting, dubbed the “Business Olympics” for coming just ahead of the Sydney Games.
A police spokeswoman said there was one arrest early today, taking the total over three days to 12. Charges included assaulting police, criminal damage, willful damage, hindering police and theft of a motor vehicle.
She said 25 police officers had sustained minor injuries in scuffles with protesters who have hurled rocks, marbles, ball bearings and containers filled with urine at the police.
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