Edgy calm - and a little capitalist enterprise

On the march: John McCallum, like many shopkeepers in the main street of Aughterard, is looking towards today's G8 summit meeting with a mixture of anticipation and dread.

"People are bit taken aback by what's happening. They're wondering why they can't hold the summit on an aircraft carrier," he says. "It's a small town, but there are going to be thousands of people. They're jumpy."

The neatly maintained main streetscape, full of small local shops and worried shopkeepers, may not be an obvious target for anti-capitalist protesters.

But, after watching the flurry of violent disorder that brought Edinburgh to a standstill on Monday, shopkeepers are anxious.

At least 5,000 anti-capitalist protesters will descend on the remote village today as they seek to get as close as possible to Gleneagles Castle, where some of the world's most powerful leaders are due to gather this evening.

In the midst of growing anxiety, McCallum is hoping to benefit through a spot of capitalist enterprise: he's stepping up his pie production. As is a delicatessen down the street, which is stockpiling bread and muffins. A sign in a cafe window also advertises extended opening hours today.

Fears over what is likely to happen at today's protests have been heightened following violent scenes on Monday in the centre of Edinburgh. The police, however, have been preparing security measures around Gleneagles for 18 months and say they are prepared for any eventuality.

The castle itself is surrounded by an 8km steel fence, watchtowers, surveillance cameras and a no-fly zone, while 3,000 police officers from across Britain will patrol the area. An airship will watch from above, while two helicopters will also circle the area.

The main protest, organised by a coalition of mostly socialist groups called G8 Alternatives, will make its way within 500m of the summit meeting. It is anarchist groups, however, that police are most worried about.

In Edinburgh yesterday there was an edgy calm a day after clashes between police and protesters brought parts of the city to a standstill.

Outside the city's courthouse, one of the protesters, "Sonny" (19), who had just been released from police custody, said there was growing anger over the police's handling of Monday's protests.

"It was a small amount of aggression, but only in retaliation to what the police were confronting us with," he said. "I saw a 40-year-old woman battered, her thighbone was smashed . . . Protesters don't have much of a problem, but the police do. We'll be in Gleneagles tomorrow again to have a bit of fun. We'll see what the police do."

The only sign of significant activity on the city streets yesterday was when a phalanx of police surrounded a colourful protest outside the Irish consulate.

The 60-strong protesters' group, mostly members of the libertarian group Dissent, which is seeking to shut down the G8 summit, were campaigning against the jailing of the "Mayo Five", with banners reading "Stop Shell Hell". Members of the ubiquitous Rebel Clown Army were also out in force, blowing kisses at police officers and wise-cracking in high-pitched voices.

"Among other things, we're trying to draw attention to the rape of natural resources," said Donagh Davis (21), a student at NUI Galway, who is a member of Dissent. "The Government and most of the political parties aren't doing anything about it."

At least 100 Irish protesters have been staying at a camp in Stirling, an hour from the city, where an alternative living space called Hor-i-zone has been created.

The many messages and aims of the libertarian and anarchist movement, including destroying capitalism, dismantling the G8 and halting the neo-liberal agenda, have been drowned out by the outbreak of violence.

However, protester Jenny Farrelly (22), taking a break from dressing up as a rebel clown for the day, said most of her friends at home supported her aims.

"Most are in agreement, although they might say, 'You mad hippie!'," said the Dublin sociology graduate, who is opposed to violent protest. "A lot agree but don't have the courage or motivation to come to something. My family agree with what I'm doing, but are afraid for me."

For many of the protesters, their focus is turning to today and what is likely to happen when they try to disrupt the G8 summit. Given the macho image of anarchist protesters, some are surprisingly candid about their fears of what might happen.

"To be honest, I'm fairly nervy about it," said one 23-year-old Dublin student. "The cops have been heavy bastards so far. The Met are up and they've no problem banging heads together or using CS gas. It is worrying."

Donagh Davis, however, was a little more sanguine about today's planned activities.

"We're here to send a message to the G8, that we don't see you as legitimate or accept you as our leaders.

"This is an earnest attempt to shut down the summit. We don't know if we'll be successful. We don't want dialogue with them - we just want to put an end to the G8," he said.