Bush protesters 'watered' down
2005-02-23 04:25
Justin Brown
Brussels - Police fired water cannons on Tuesday to disperse protesters
gathered near the European Union headquarters as US President
George W Bush held talks with EU leaders.
Police sprayed several demonstrators with streams of water after
a fire bomb was thrown at them across a barricade. Protesters also
threw empty plastic and glass bottles at police.
Initial police estimates said about 1 000 demonstrators braved
the chill weather and snow flurries.
Police said they did not know if anyone was injured.
Associated
Press Television News reporters saw several people arrested.
Demonstrators shouted "Bush Go Home" protesting noisily against
the American leader's visit, with many banging pots, pans and
drums, and blowing whistles.
Police kept them behind barricades and well away from the EU
head office complex where Bush met with the leaders of the 25 EU
nations.
It was the third anti-Bush demonstration in the Belgian capital
since the US leader arrived here on Sunday night.
Authorities
deployed 2 500 police to man the security cordons around the world
leaders.
Some activists wore orange jump suits with burlap sacks over
their heads to protest abuse of prisoners in Iraq.
- AP