Copenhagen police crackdown 'preplanned': Aussie eyewitness

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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/copenhagen-police-crackdown-preplanned-aussie-eyewitness/story-fn3dxity-1225809825964

A POLICE crackdown on climate protesters in Copenhagen in which hundreds were arrested was preplanned and apparently without justification, according to an Australian eyewitness.

Simon Sheikh, national director of the progressive Australian lobby group Get Up, watched the crackdown from his apartment - and has exclusive video footage of it.

Mr Sheikh said the marchers were peacefully making their way through the bohemian district of Christianshavn yesterday afternoon when the police moved in.

"At a preplanned time they ran with full riot gear straight at women, children and families," Mr Sheikhsaid. "We were taken aback."''

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"We were surprised because they were protesters who were simply calling for a fair treaty here at Copenhagen. It's sad to see police react in the way they did."
http://www.getup.org.au/

[Overseas]

1. K&R. //

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2. Nearly 1,000 held after Copenhagen climate rally

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/RB129543.htm

Police detained nearly 1,000 people in Copenhagen on Saturday during mass demonstrations to demand that negotiators at U.N. talks agree a strong treaty to fight global warming.

Tens of thousands of people marched through the city as part of a global "Day of Action" of climate rallies from Australia to the United States, but violence flared at one stage when demonstrators smashed windows and set fire to cars.

Riot police detained more than 900 people around the Danish capital after black-clad activists threw bottles and smashed windows. A police spokeswoman said the number had climbed to 968 shortly after 10 p.m. (2100 GMT).

Police said four cars were set on fire during the evening. One policeman was hurt by a stone and a Swedish man injured by a firework.

"You don't have to use that kind of violence to be heard," said Connie Hedegaard, the Danish minister presiding at the U.N. talks. She condemned rioters after welcoming the main march at a candlelit vigil outside the conference centre.