Protesters were hit with batons
Police in Washington have clashed with protesters who have gathered in the city to try to stop today's meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The protesters are objecting to global capitalism. Officers dressed in riot gear sprayed some demonstrators in the eyes with pepper stray and hit others with batons. Several thousand people took to the streets and tried to stop the delegates from entering their meetings.
The clashes flared after protesters had broken down a barricade outside the US Treasury Department, located next to the White House. Yesterday, police arrested about 600 protesters. Police say that they are determined to prevent a repetition of the violent protests which disrupted the World Trade Organisation conference in Seattle in December.
