Ottawa - Protestors angered by United States President George Bush's visit to Canada have scuffled with riot police in central Ottawa on Tuesday, as fist fights flared on the fringes of mainly peaceful demonstrations.
A line of dozens of police in riot gear stretched across a road, preventing a breakaway group of several hundred protestors from reaching a luxury hotel hosting some of the US delegation.
The shoving match was close to parliament buildings where Bush earlier met Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and other senior officials.
Riot police - wearing helmets, face masks, in some cases gas masks, and carrying riot shields - held back a crowd as protestors sporadically threw sticks, stones, pumpkins and paint bombs.
Continues Below ↓
Protestors sporadically threw sticks, stones, pumpkins and paint bombs A policeman was taken away, apparently with minor injuries, and a number of protestors were arrested.
Bush earlier arrived in Canada for a 26-hour visit which also takes him to the country's Atlantic coast on Wednesday.
The US leader, highly unpopular among Canadians, said he had been cheered by his reception, even though a total of around 5 000 demonstrators gathered to protest his visit.
"I want to thank the Canadian people who came out to wave - with all five fingers - for their hospitality," he quipped.
Protestors carried signs bearing biting anti-Bush messages, some centering on the US-led invasion of Iraq, which was highly unpopular in Canada.
"Is God really an American?" one sign read, while other protestors held up a banner reading "Bush = Hitler" and "Some terrorists wear suits."
Protests have been organised by the so-called "No to Bush Committee" - a coalition of demonstrators angry at Bush's role in the war in Iraq, his stance on abortion rights, his policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and what they see as Washington's discrimination against Arabs and Muslims.
Protestors also plan to target the US national missile defence scheme, which Washington wants Ottawa to join, and alleged discrimination against gays and lesbians in the United States.
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
