Police warn protesters over G8 violence

EDINBURGH - Police have vowed  to get tough with protesters bent on violence at the G8 summit, telling them a repeat of clashes in Edinburgh would be met with a robust response.

Police blamed a hard core of activists for scuffles which brought much of the Scottish capital to a standstill and led to 100 arrests.

The protests took place two days before a summit of leaders of the Group of Eight industrialised nations, who will gather on Wednesday at Gleneagles Hotel, to try to tackle African poverty and devise a strategy against global warming.

Mindful of the violence that erupted at previous G8 summits in Genoa, Italy, in 2001 and Evian, France, in 2003, Scottish police have thousands of officers on standby in case of trouble.

John Vine, the chief constable of Tayside Police which is responsible for security at the summit, said his force was happy to work with organised and peaceful demonstrators.

However, he added: "Make no bones about it, if we encounter people who are prepared to use violence to achieve their aims...we will take robust action."

Monday's demonstrations in Edinburgh began peacefully as protesters, banging drums and shaking bells, marched and danced between police containment cordons.

Police said the trouble was started by "a hard core of determined activists". They said they believed the ringleaders had been held.

Among the protesters were masked members of the Black Bloc, an anarchist group based in Germany and Scandinavia that has been prominent in protests at past G8 summits.

"We have always said that we wanted to assist those who wish to make peaceful protest, but in our view it is clear this was never on this group's agenda," Assistant Chief Constable Tom Halpin said.

"This is not about protest - this is unacceptable and irresponsible behaviour."

He said the police response was "proportionate" but critics described it as "inflammatory".

"The behaviour of the police has been provocative and a total overreaction. They seem to be spoiling for a fight," said Frances Curran, a Socialist member of the Scottish parliament.

Police said they were not expecting further disturbances in Edinburgh on Tuesday but cautioned that the start of the G8 summit could trigger further violence.

"It could be lively on Wednesday," a police spokesman said.

- REUTERS