Protesters Fail to Break Into UN Climate Talks

Danish police was out in force on Wednesday in one of its biggest crowd-control efforts ever. A police spokesman said 250 people were arrested at various points in Copenhagen.br /
Near the Bella Centre conference centre, I saw four people being arrested. At exactly midday, approximately 500 policemen began moving in on a protest that they had declared illegal.br /
The protest at the Bella Centre was organized by the Climate Justice action network. They had announced plans for a peaceful protest that would seek to break through the barriers around the centre. br /
The plan was to hold what it called a Peoples Summit inside the venue at one oclock, together with climate groups taking parts in the COP15 talks.br /
But at that time, about 2000 protesters found themselves surrounded by police in riot gear. br /
Police used pepper spray and police battons to keep the crowd under control.br /
When it became clear that the protesters no longer were able enter the Centre, the police authorities took off their helmets to adopt a less aggressive stance. Some riot police were given time to do something else.br /
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Meanwhile, inside the Bella Centre, tensions were heating up again. Another day without real progress has passed, and, with 24 hours to go before the heads of state of a 110 countries arrive, the Danish climate minister, Connie Hedegaard, was replaced as President of the COP15 meeting.br /
Raymond Frenken, for EUX.TV in Copenhagen. Distributed by Tubemogul.