Thousands of demonstrators clashed with riot police outside a conference center in Copenhagen on Wednesday where 193 countries were discussing a new global climate pact.
Police cordoned off the Bella Centre conference center in the suburbs of the Danish capital, preventing people from entering or leaving the building. The road leading to the airport was also blocked by police vehicles.
Police used tear gas to repel several attempts by activists seeking to get past the police cordon, and more than 150 people have been arrested, international media reported.
Activists, angered by lack of progress on a new climate deal and by restrictions on access to the talks, chanted slogans through a loudspeaker installed on a small truck and many of them climbed onto police vehicles in an attempt to break through the cordon.
A separate group of demonstrators - members of NGOs who were excluded from the talks today for security reasons - made an attempt to break into the conference from the opposite side. "Change politicians, not climate!" they shouted. Police used batons to disperse them.
Wednesday's march follows mass rallies in Copenhagen at the weekend, involving thousands of people concerned about the impact of man-made climate change.
The negotiators have so far failed to forge a new deal to curb greenhouse gas emissions, to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol. Countries continue to disagree on reduction targets and financial aid to poorer countries on efforts to fight climate change.
COPENHAGEN, December 16 (RIA Novosti)
