from Agence France-Presse

ROSTOCK, Germany (AFP) - More than 140 police were injured in violent clashes with Molotov cocktail-throwing protestors here on Saturday at a demonstration ahead of next week’s G8 summit.

Riots broke out as tens of thousands of people marched through this northeastern German port, 25 kilometres (15 miles) from the Baltic resort of Heiligendamm, where the leaders of the world’s richest nations will begin a three-day meeting on Wednesday.

Several hundred demonstrators from a group of about 2,000 wearing black masks and hoods hurled Molotov cocktails, stones and bottles at police and several cars were set on fire or overturned.

Police used water cannons in an attempt to disperse the troublemakers, who were believed to be from a far-left group.

Some 25 police had serious injuries, a spokeswoman said, while 78 protesters had been arrested. A total of 146 officers were hurt, according to the spokeswoman.

It remained unclear at 2000 GMT how many protesters were injured.

The violence only involved a small percentage of the 20,000 people that took part in the march, according to police figures. The organisers of the march — a collection of anti-globalisation and anti-poverty groups — claimed 80,000 people had taken part. Police put the figure at 30,000.

Werner Ratz of the ATTAC anti-globalisation organisation said clashes began when the group of violent protesters threw rocks at a police vehicle with an officer inside.

Police then sent in two anti-riot squads to rescue the officer, which led to clashes, he said.
Anti-G8 demonstrators display effigies of the G8 leaders as they stage a protest

“There is no justification for such violence against people and we formally distance ourselves from it,” Ratz said.

The clashes bore out fears expressed by German authorities that left-wing militants would cause unrest during protests against the summit.