Now embassy protest brings G8 violence to London

A DEMONSTRATION to protest at the death of a G8 activist descended into violence outside the Italian embassy in Mayfair.

More than 150 anti-capitalist protesters from a variety of groups converged last night on the embassy in Grosvenor Square.

Fighting broke out after police started corralling the protesters away from the embassy s main entrance. More than 80 baton-wielding officers, some in riot gear, encircled them.

Then, in a repeat of the controversial "containment and dispersal" tactics used by police at the May Day riots, riot vans blocked both ends of Grosvenor Street and demonstrators were forced to leave one by one while officers photographed and searched them. About 30 protesters insisted on leaving together and tried to fight their way out. Three were arrested.

A 32-year-old woman, who refused to be named, said: "It was a completely peaceful protest and they suddenly charged us with their batons."

Anti-globalisation campaigner Martin Green, 39, said: "The police are asking us all for our names, addresses, and photographs before we can leave.

They are taking away our right to protest."

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "We had no warning that this demonstration was to go ahead. We recognise the right to demonstrate peacefully. The demonstrators were detained to and allowed to leave one at a time to prevent a breach of the peace."

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