SWITZERLAND: W-E- F - PROTEST (3)

Описание: (29 Jan 2000) English/Nat

Demonstrators faced tear gas and gun shots as Swiss police tried to break up violent protests outside the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Defying a ban on demonstrations, hundreds of anti-free trade protesters smashed shop fronts and car windows on Saturday to demonstrate against the gathering global political and corporate leaders - including U-S president Bill Clinton.

Earlier, Clinton met with Yasser Arafat for bi-lateral talks on the Middle East peace process.

Dressed in ski gear, the group of around five hundred people had arrived in buses from Switzerland, France and Italy.

The demonstration started peacefully, but quickly turned violent as police fired shots into the air and then used tear gas to keep demonstrators under control.

Barricades set up along the streets were moved as the chanting protesters advanced towards the congress center.

Most of the protesters retreated after the standoff at a barricade 500 yards from the center.

Windows at a McDonald's hamburger outlet were damaged, while one protester scrawled "food killer" on the restaurant facade.

Cheered on by the gathering crowd, he then sprayed a emblem equivalent to the "fingers" sign next to the outlet's front door.

A security officer was seen lying in the street, apparently injured.

One protester turned violent when camera crews tried to film the injured man.

SOUNDBITE: (German)
"Don't come here, no filming, get away, go away."
SUPER CAPTION: Protester

The protesters argue that the W-E-F say it is undemocratic and only concerned with maximising commercial profits.

But those attending the conference say its opponents haven't been listening.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It is a very unfortunate distraction from what I think overall has been a very positive conference where to be honest with you, many of the messages that came out of Seattle have in fact been picked up on by Bill Clinton and by Tony Blair and by others, and I think this is a most unfortunate distraction."
SUPER CAPTION: John Queich, Dean of London Business School

Security has been tight since President Clinton's arrival at the W-E-F meeting, which he addressed earlier on Saturday.

Clinton told political and business leaders at the forum they need to listen to the concerns of labor and environmentalists while still promoting free trade.

Swiss authorities were anxious to prevent a repeat of demonstrations like those which accompanied last month's W-T-O meeting in Seattle.

Authorities had slapped a ban on demonstrations and the Swiss government has for the first time called in the army to help police brought in from throughout Switzerland.

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