Protesters clash with Australian police outside economic summit

Australian police and demonstrators clash at an anti-globalization protest outside the economic forum Monday in Melbourne

In this story: Five taken to hospital Official condemns violence RELATED STORIES, SITES

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Five people, including two policemen, were injured Monday in clashes as an anti-globalization protest outside the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Asia-Pacific meeting in Melbourne, Australia, turned violent.

Police estimated about 1,500 demonstrators gathered in the streets around the city center Crown Casino complex to voice concerns over the impact of globalization on the poor while government and international business leaders gathered inside.

One delegate, Western Australia state Premier Richard Court, was trapped in his official car as a crowd of about 100 protesters jumped on it, slashed its tires and spraypainted the vehicle's body.

Clashes broke out as around 50 police, some on horseback, broke through the crowd to disperse protesters who had surrounded the vehicle. Court's car was turned back and did not enter the complex.

Five taken to hospital

Ambulance service spokesman Peter Jeppesen said five people -- two policemen, two protesters and one casino worker -- had been taken to the hospital after being injured in scuffles.

"All five who needed hospital treatment are now stable," Jeppesen said. "The protest was much livelier early on this morning but it seems to have settled down."

Most of the day's main speakers were brought safely inside the complex well before the meeting was due to begin, and a large media contingent was ordered to arrive before dawn to gain entry.

Protesters prevented about half the delegates from attending the opening session of the forum, and some delegates had to be flown by helicopter to the summit to avoid the demonstrations.

Official condemns violence

Australian Treasurer Peter Costello, who was among the approximately 800 delegates inside the casino, condemned the violence but said public fears about free trade had to be respected.

"There's obviously been some violent behavior by some protesters who attempted to prevent people from entering," he said. "I condemn that and I call on those protesters to exercise their right of protest peacefully.

"If policymakers think that they can ignore public opinion I think they would be making rather a large mistake."

Dozens of government leaders and senior business executives, including Microsoft's Bill Gates, are due to attend the summit to discuss future economic developments in Asia.

The three-day event is organized by the Davos, Switzerland-based WEF, a group that brings together business and government heads to discuss the global economy.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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