May Day protests spark violence

Police attempted to contain the demonstrations in central London

LONDON, England -- Violence has flared in European capitals as anti-globalisation protesters clashed with police at May Day rallies.

Police in London came under fire from a hail of makeshift weapons as they charged at demonstrators who had brought the centre of the city to a standstill.

In Berlin, around 6,000 people confronted police, who arrested scores of people and used water cannon to break up blazing barricades set by demonstrators.

VIDEO CNN's Richard Quest reports from the heart of the demonstration Real Windows QuickTime Businesses and police are being extra vigilant as anti-capitalist protesters gather in London, CNN's Diana Muriel is there. Real Windows QuickTime     AUDIO CNN's Richard Quest in London: Protesters push at police lines 457K/42 sec. AIFF or WAV sound CNN's Bettina Luscher: Controversial neo-Nazi march 870K/80 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Tom Bentley, Demos Director: Groups and their agenda 910K/84 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Tom Bentley, Demos Director: Use of the Internet 930K/86 sec. AIFF or WAV sound CNN's Doug Herbert: May Day tradition 740K/68 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     RESOURCES May Day 2001 • Diverse agendas in Europe • Day in pictures • Ancient roots • Police preparations • Monopoly in London • Tension in London • Rallies around the world • Riots, dancing in Asia • Related sites

In France, thousands of workers took part in traditionally peaceful May 1 marches in protest at recent job cuts by large companies.

Violence erupted in London after several thousand demonstrators were surrounded by police in riot gear on London's Oxford Street -- one of the city’s major shopping areas containing many multi-national companies.

After hours of largely peaceful protest, in which police kept separated differing groups of demonstrators, the mood turned ugly.

Police charged demonstrators forcing them back only for the protesters to counter-charge as makeshift weapons rained down on police lines and masked demonstrators wrecked traffic lights.

Around 6,000 police officers had been ordered onto the streets to keep the crowds under control.

CNN's Paul Sussman said from the scene of the clashes: "Bottles, sticks and debris was hurled at police as they baton-charged protesters who had lit a fire on Oxford Street.

"People were driven to the floor as police charged the crowds. Several protesters lay with blood pouring from wounds.

"One group of protesters were penned in at Oxford Circus, and police told them they were being detained. Whenever someone was arrested, they were handcuffed and their faces photographed by police.

"Drums pounded, whistles were blown and shouts of 'bash them' rose from the crowd around the city, as the mood became increasingly angry.

"Punches were thrown and some officers retaliated by lashed out with their batons at protesters to drive them back."

Britons were outraged last year when a statue of Winston Churchill was daubed with graffiti and a piece of green turf placed on his head.

On Tuesday, barricades were erected round Parliament Square where workmen boarded up statues of Churchill and Abraham Lincoln.

London's Mayor Ken Livingstone was reported to have been placed under police guard as protesters gathered for the demonstration and some businesses in the capital had closed in anticipation of trouble.

Demonstrators had dubbed the UK protests May Day Monopoly after the famous board game.

One of the protesters' Web sites said: "Using the symbolism of the Monopoly game, diverse groups will perform autonomous actions throughout London relating to squares on the Monopoly board."

Water cannon fired in Berlin

In Berlin, Germany, police had turned water cannon on demonstrators before dawn on Tuesday in a prelude to feared May Day mayhem.

The demonstration had been banned by the authorities, but during the night about 500 protesters erected barricades, set fires and threw stones and bottles at police, who responded with water cannon.

A police spokesman said up to 40 demonstrators were arrested and several officers were injured.

CNN's Bettina Luscher said police and rioters clashed in two separate incidents in the east of the city.

She said in one a crowd of 6,000 people confronted police, while elsewhere another 500 were involved in clashes. At least 40 people were arrested and several police officers were injured.

In France, staff recently laid off from British-based retailer Marks & Spencer and French food giant Groupe Danone were given the pride of place at the head of marches throughout the country.

In Greece, flights were curtailed and shipping and rail services disrupted as public transport workers joined in May Day protests against government plans for pension changes.

Tens of thousands of protesters, many carrying banners and shouting slogans, turned the traditional May Day march through the streets of Athens into a strong assault on the government's proposed reforms of the pension system.

The demonstration followed a general strike last week that brought 100,000 people onto the streets, shutting down schools, hospitals and state services and bringing transport to a standstill.

In Russia, the news agency Interfax said more than 50,000 people took part in May Day rallies across Siberia and the Far East.

It said they were demanding higher wages, better working conditions, improved pensions, price controls and abolition of a single social tax introduced at the beginning of the year.

Protesters carried banners proclaiming "We need a second Stalin" and "No to the anti-national policy of the government."

In Italy, a scuffle broke out in the northern city of Turin after a small group of activists backing centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi tried to join a leftist May Day rally.

Meanwhile, some 5,000 mostly elderly supporters of Bulgaria's main opposition Socialist Party marched in central Sofia to protest against poverty, rising crime and corruption.

May Day: Roots in an ancient rite
April 30, 2001
May Day: Rallies around the world
May 1, 2001
Police brace for May Day protests
May 1, 2001
Riots, dancing mark Asia's May Day
May 1, 2001
Berlin protesters clash with police
May 1, 2001
Police prepare for May Day mayhem
April 30, 2001

May Day Monopoly
The Metropolitan Police Service

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.