CHILE: Hooded anti-American marchers protesting an Asia-Pacific summit in Chile yesterday hurled Molotov cocktails and stones at police who retaliated with water cannons and tear gas.
A large march against the weekend meeting of 21 leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum turned violent when a few dozen youths broke away from the main group to attack police.
US President George Bush was due to arrive later in the day and his visit has become a focus for protests.
Tens of thousands of people streamed through downtown Santiago carrying banners and chanting slogans against the US-led occupation of Iraq, including "Fascist Bush is a terrorist". The area affected by violence was small and had no effect on plans of APEC leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's President Hu Jintao, to hold bilateral meetings ahead of the leaders' summit on the weekend.
Ministers paving the way for the weekend meeting have discussed ways to revive global trade talks launched in Doha three years ago. Co-operation against international terrorism is also on the agenda, at the urging of countries including the United States and Russia.
China's President Hu has taken advantage of his South American trip to guarantee supplies of key commodities for his booming economy. He launched free-trade talks with Chile, the world's largest copper exporter, and promised investment during visits to soy-producing Brazil and Argentina.