Violent protest mars summit

VIOLENT clashes between anti-globalisation protesters and police marred the end of a summit of EU and Latin American leaders in Mexico’s second city of Guadalajara yesterday.

French President Jacques Chirac was forced to cancel a news conference as the well-organised groups of protesters pelted riot police with missiles.

Rioters turned cans of spray-paint into homemade flamethrowers and directed them at the police.

Around 20 people were injured and more than 90 were arrested in the mayhem, just a short distance from the venue where world leaders gathered to discuss issues including trade reform.

Mexican authorities said a violent student movement was behind the attacks.

The rioters struck during a peaceful rally by hundreds of people in support of fair trade and against poverty.

Police attempted to bring the situation under control, hitting protesters with their batons, firing tear gas and using water cannons on the agitators, but it took several hours for them to break up the crowds.