NATO protesters storm hotel, light fires

[jimmy olsen]

Where's a 'whiff of grapeshot' when you need it?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30040224/

NATO protesters storm hotel, light fires

Officials cancel Michelle Obama's plan to visit hospital amid security fears

updated 2 hours, 20 minutes ago

STRASBOURG, France - Black-clad protesters attacked police and set a customs station ablaze Saturday on a bridge linking France and Germany that served hours earlier as the backdrop for a show of unity by NATO leaders.

AP photographers saw other protesters storm a nearby Ibis hotel, setting fires and pilfering alcohol from its bar.

Stacks of old tires were also set ablaze, unleashing thick plumes of black smoke that could be seen from across the river. Near the bonfire was a sign welcoming visitors to Strasbourg.

First lady Michelle Obama and other spouses canceled a visit to a cancer hospital out of concern for security, the French president's office said. Some 1,000 protesters were staked out near the hospital they were to visit.

Some of the protesters say they want an end to war and call NATO a tool of Western imperialism. Others simply appear bent on causing chaos.

Saturday's protest began calmly but began turning violent around noon (1000 GMT, 6 a.m. EDT). An AP reporter saw police in body armor and helmets hoisting shields as they were pelted by several hundred protesters with rocks, sticks and then Molotov cocktails.

About 100 officers responded by lobbing flash bombs and volleys of tear gas into the crowds of demonstrators, many dressed in black and wearing masks or balaclavas.

Members of the violence-prone "black bloc" — named for their black clothes and hoods — then headed toward the Europa Bridge and set fire to the customs station on the French side and sprayed graffiti on the walls of buildings.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

'Fight law and order'
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and two dozen other NATO leaders walked across the bridge separating Germany and France before the 60th-anniversary summit began.

Across the Rhine River in Kehl, Germany, an estimated 5,000 demonstrators gathered peacefully and hoped to cross into Strasbourg but were diverted by scores of police, backed by at least five trucks with water cannons.

"No nations, no border. Fight law and order," they chanted in unison as police clad in riot gear looked on.

Protesters have been frustrated by large police presence in both cities. Some 15,000 German police and 9,000 French police are on call for the summit. Helicopters have patrolled the skies and police in fast boats have crisscrossed the river, too.

Earlier Saturday, some 1,800 protesters left their camp south of Strasbourg at about 4 a.m. (0200 GMT) and headed north through deserted streets to the summit site before being turned back.

Elsewhere, a separate group of 200 French and German protesters — including dozens dressed as clowns and a team of dancing percussionists — occupied a central intersection in downtown Strasbourg after police launched flash bombs and tear gas at them.

German authorities had estimated that up to 25,000 protesters would take part in several demonstrations in Kehl and the German spa town of Baden-Baden, about 35 miles away, where NATO leaders met and had supper in a lavish casino.

France's interior minister has suggested 30,000 to 40,000 ultimately could show up in Strasbourg. The numbers have so far appeared much smaller.

More on NATO

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

[Valmy]

Some of the protesters say they want an end to war and call NATO a tool of Western imperialism.

Leftists who choose the Taliban over the West?!  I am shocked and amazed.  Hilarious the left is moved to violence in support of organizations that blow up schools who dare to educate girls.  Man both the left and right love to jump in bed with religious extremist fundamentalists these days.

[Neil]

The irony is that law and order are the only things keeping these imbeciles from getting beaten to death.

[Valmy]

The irony is that law and order are the only things keeping these imbeciles from getting beaten to death.

QFT

[Sheilbh]

It's a relatively small number of protestors and, as with all these international pow-wows, I think a lot of the violence comes from a very small hard-core of anarchists who will travel widely for these things.

It's interesting how out of control these things are though.  They're not really a political movement.  They're anti-capitalist, anti-NATO or what have you but that's not really a political programme.  I think that was marked by the French Communist Party leader who's furious about these demonstrations (not like the good old days when you can get a union on the streets protesting for or against something, or a million man march in Washington for civil rights, or even poll tax riots).

Though I have a great deal of sympathy as someone who marched for and against the war in Iraq I understand the urge to protest for the sake of it.

[viper37]

ah, the pacifists are protesting again?  With violence and mayhem, as usual, to better get their point accross.

[Razgovory]

Some of the protesters say they want an end to war and call NATO a tool of Western imperialism.

Leftists who choose the Taliban over the West?!  I am shocked and amazed.  Hilarious the left is moved to violence in support of organizations that blow up schools who dare to educate girls.  Man both the left and right love to jump in bed with religious extremist fundamentalists these days.

Well actually they are anarachists (and some are neo-Nazis).

[Darth Wagtaros]

Anarchists should be dropped in Detroit (which would be walled off from the rest of the world) to learn some respect for civilization. 

[Admiral Yi]

If only we could somehow cut them off from their supply of black clothing we could eliminate this terrible scourge.

[Razgovory]

If only we could somehow cut them off from their supply of black clothing we could eliminate this terrible scourge.

It would also cut down on Ninja attacks.

[Syt]

If only we could somehow cut them off from their supply of black clothing we could eliminate this terrible scourge.

Not everyone wearing black is a bad person.

See: Sartre, Johnny Cash, Himmler.

[Siege]

If only we could somehow cut them off from their supply of black clothing we could eliminate this terrible scourge.

Not everyone wearing black is a bad person.

See: Sartre, Johnny Cash, Himmler.

        
Not funny. 

[Norgy]

It would also cut down on Ninja attacks.

That would be horrible!

I am mostly worried about how mrs. Obama's visit to the hospital was cancelled. Is she alright?

[FunkMonk]

It's time to kick the tires and light the fires, big daddy!

[Razgovory]

If only we could somehow cut them off from their supply of black clothing we could eliminate this terrible scourge.

Not everyone wearing black is a bad person.

See: Sartre, Johnny Cash, Himmler.

A trinity of evil.  Though Himmler was a good singer.