Naples, Italy — Lobbing rocks and swinging pieces of wood, thousands of protesters clashed with police who used tear gas and clubs to keep them from reaching a forum on information technology Saturday.
Although the protest was called to denounce globalization, some of the demonstrators turned out to publicize other causes, such as several dozen Kurds demanding that Turkey free imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan and Neapolitans complaining they have no jobs, Italian news agencies reported from this southern port city.
A demonstrator against the Global Forum is kept on the ground with a rifle by an paramilitary police officer. Clashes broke out Saturday in Naples, Italy.
Coverage by state and private TV networks showed tear gas wafting through the heart of the city. TV reports said police at times used rubber bullets against protesters who were hurling cobblestones and metal bolts. About 70 demonstrators and 50 officers suffered minor injuries, police said. Reports from Naples, however, said that some protesters were afraid to show up at hospitals for treatment for fear of arrest.
The forum, which began earlier in the week, drew participants ranging from politicians to telecommunications company leaders. An anti-globalization protest in Naples on Friday was peaceful. Protesters wearing pasta colanders on their heads threw lettuce leaves at police.
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.