IMF Trims Meetings in Washington

The IMF and World Bank said Friday that they will cut their annual meetings in Washington next month to just two days in the face of expected protests and violence by thousands of anti-globalization activists.

The talks, which include a key meeting of finance ministers from the Group of 7 industrialized nations, will be on Sept. 29 and 30. The meetings had been scheduled to continue until Oct. 4.

Washington police are bracing for as many as 50,000 protesters to descend on the city to try to disrupt the meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

The World Bank said the decision was made after consulting the U.S. government, to ensure “the least possible disruption to the people who live and work in Washington.”

World Bank spokesman Merrell Tuck said the decision stemmed from fear of violence.

“The expressed intent of violence of a few parties is diminishing the chance to meet with people of good faith to discuss our points of view,” Tuck said. “We feel that there is going to be some loss. This is an unfortunate setback.”

Tuck said it was likely that a series of concurrent seminars would be canceled. They were set to run through Oct. 4 and were to include a speech by Argentine Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo, aimed at rebuilding confidence in his nation’s crisis-ridden economy.

The decision will be voted on by the boards of the IMF and World Bank, with a final decision expected Tuesday.

Washington Mayor Anthony Williams told President Bush this week that the city could not guarantee safety during the IMF meetings without federal help in paying estimated security costs of $50 million.

Mobilization for Global Justice, one organizer of the protests, said the rallies would be held as planned.