Protesters flood into G8 city

Tight security at all city entry points

GENOA, Italy -- Anti-capitalist campaigners have poured into the Italian city of Genoa ahead of a summit of world leaders.

Thousands of police have been deployed in the city in an attempt to keep protests peaceful at the G8 summit of leading industrial nations.

Tensions are high after two letter bombs exploded in the city, a series of police raids, increased border checks and a reported threat to U.S. President George W. Bush who is to attend the conference.

The two letter bombs -- one on Wednesday and one on Monday -- each injured one person and there have been a number of other real and hoax bomb threats around the country in the run-up to the summit, which begins on Friday.

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Police have thrown a ring of steel around the centre of Genoa and introduced a 'red zone' surrounding the G8 venue into which only pass holders and residents can enter.

More than 100,000 protesters - fighting causes from third world debt to global warming to anti-globalisation -- are expected to be in Genoa for the summit's opening on Friday.

On Wednesday the first large crowds of demonstrators began arriving.

A train pulling into the central station held hundreds of young activists chanting "Genoa, Genoa" and waving clenched fists, Reuters reported.

The news agency also reported one group of about 25 wore T-shirts bearing the slogan "Red Zone Invaders," a reference to their plans to break into the security zone.

The G8, made up of the U.S. UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia, intend to focus on providing a boost to the global economy, alleviate the debt of the world's poorest countries on how to help the U.N. drive against infectious diseases.

But CNN's European political editor Robin Oakley it is quite possible they could be diverted by breaking events such as the continuing violence in the Middle East or the peace talks in Macedonia.

Outside the venue, 15,000 police will be on duty while fighter jets, helicopters, warships and surface-to-air missiles have all been brought in to defend Genoa, elaborate measures that cost $110 million.

But protesters are confident their demonstrations will take place.

The leader of one hardline Italian group, "Tute Bianche" (White Overalls), said in an interview with Reuters that thousands of demonstrators would attempt to storm the summit venue on Friday.

And the celebrated anti-globalisation activist French farmer Jose Bove added: "(Bush) says that the anti-G8 demonstrators are against the poor people of the world. Clearly Bush is lying, just as the other G8 leaders meeting here in Genoa lie."

Bush will be in Genoa for the entire summit and has hit out at protesters.

Bush, quoted by The Associated Press, said: "Those who try to disrupt and destroy and hurt are really defeating ... their cause, it seems like to me. I think a lot of people in the world are just kind of sick of it."

Adding to the security headache is a reported assassination threat against Bush by millionaire militant Muslim Osama bin Laden.

Earlier this month AP reported that the head of Russia's Federal Security Services viewed "the threats with as totally serious."