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Copenhagen rally leads to arrests Copenhagen rally leads to arrests
(about 2 hours later)
Trouble has broken out as thousands of people marched through Copenhagen demanding action from leaders at UN climate talks there. Violence briefly disrupted a march through Copenhagen by thousands of people demanding climate change action at the talks the city is hosting.
Most of the march in the Danish capital passed off peacefully, but one group smashed windows and was arrested. Several people were arrested after masked youths threw bricks and smashed windows. Hundreds of others were held by police as a preventive measure.
Hundreds of others were detained in a preventative action by police.
Security has been tight along the four-mile (6km) route, with extra police on the streets and security fences put up around some buildings.
Marches were also held in Australia, Hong Kong, Jakarta and the Philippines.Marches were also held in Australia, Hong Kong, Jakarta and the Philippines.
Danish police said they had rounded up more than 300 people in a preventive action against a section of the demonstration, AP news agency reported. Ministers have started arriving to join other delegates at the UN conference which runs for another week.
Television pictures showed scores of people on the ground with their hands tied and surrounded by riot police. Documents prepared by the conference's leaders call on developed nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions by between 25 and 45% of 1990 levels by 2020.
EU leaders are offering developing countries a three-year deal that would pay them 7.2bn euros (£6.5bn; $10.6bn) to help cope with climate change.
The exact target for limiting temperature rise is unclear amid disputes between various blocs.
'Restrictive' policing
Danish police estimate that some 30,000 people joined the march while organisers put the number at 100,000.
AT THE SCENE Matt McGrath, BBC News, Copenhagen
The colourful parade, with some people dressed in polar bear suits, departed Parliament Square amid tight security.
According to reports, police moved in when masked youths threw bricks and smashed windows in the centre of the city.
Denmark's parliament recently passed controversial laws giving police powers of pre-emptive arrest of anyone they believe is likely to break the law.
According to a source close to the Danish government, those people who were "pre-emptively detained" will be held for up to four hours. Those arrested will be brought before a judge within 24 hours.
They marched 6km (4 miles) across the city to the conference centre where negotiators and ministers are meeting.
After violence erupted, large numbers of mainly young people were detained. TV pictures showed the police putting the demonstrators in seated lines on the street with their hands tied behind their backs. They were later removed on buses.
Danish police said they had rounded up more than 300 people in a preventive action against a section of the demonstration.
Simon Sheikh, of the Australian social and political network "Get Up", said he had witnessed the detentions from his apartment in the centre of the city.
"The police rounded up protesters in a pre-planned manoeuvre," he told the BBC.
"It was unprovoked. They rounded up a group, including women and children, and pushed them into a store, before splitting them into groups and handcuffing them."

COPENHAGEN LATEST

  • A draft deal envisages emission cuts by rich countries of 25-40% from 1990 levels by 2020
  • Cuts promised so far come to 18%
  • The EU has pledged $10.6bn over three years to a proposed $10bn annual fund to help poor countries cope with climate change
  • Environment ministers join summit negotiations
  • More than 110 leaders now due to attend last day on 18 December
Updated: 13:50 GMT, 12 December

COPENHAGEN LATEST

  • A draft deal envisages emission cuts by rich countries of 25-40% from 1990 levels by 2020
  • Cuts promised so far come to 18%
  • The EU has pledged $10.6bn over three years to a proposed $10bn annual fund to help poor countries cope with climate change
  • Environment ministers join summit negotiations
  • More than 110 leaders now due to attend last day on 18 December
Updated: 13:50 GMT, 12 December
More than 50 other protesters were arrested in Copenhagen following a smaller demonstration on Friday.
Organisers said up to 100,000 protesters from around the world had joined Saturday's march across the city to the conference centre where negotiators and ministers are meeting.
Danish police estimated that up to 30,000 people had taken part.
The BBC's Matt McGrath, in Copenhagen, said the crowd was colourful, with some protesters dressed as polar bears and others draped in blue and green to show their support for the planet.
Activists are arguing for an ambitious, legally binding agreement on emissions cuts to be signed by world leaders at the summit's conclusion at the end of next week.Activists are arguing for an ambitious, legally binding agreement on emissions cuts to be signed by world leaders at the summit's conclusion at the end of next week.
"This is the right time to shout out and let leaders know this is serious business for us all. Lets hope they listen," Lin Che, a 28-year-old student from Taiwan, told Reuters news agency."This is the right time to shout out and let leaders know this is serious business for us all. Lets hope they listen," Lin Che, a 28-year-old student from Taiwan, told Reuters news agency.
A number of famous figures said they would join the protest, among them Bollywood actor Rahul Bose, model and photographer Helena Christensen and former UN human rights commissioner Mary Robinson.A number of famous figures said they would join the protest, among them Bollywood actor Rahul Bose, model and photographer Helena Christensen and former UN human rights commissioner Mary Robinson.
Helena Christensen told the marchers: "It's incredibly difficult to reach agreement in families, so to reach it between nations obviously will be a long and difficult process. But that's what they are there for and that's what we expect from them."
'Safe climate''Safe climate'
In Australia, where events were held as part of the country's fifth Walk Against Warming, the largest protest was held in Melbourne.In Australia, where events were held as part of the country's fifth Walk Against Warming, the largest protest was held in Melbourne.
In pictures: Climate protestsIn pictures: Climate protests
The march closed with protesters spelling out the message "Safe Climate - Do It!" on the ground.The march closed with protesters spelling out the message "Safe Climate - Do It!" on the ground.
Organisers said aerial photographs had been taken and would be sent to delegates at the talks in Copenhagen.Organisers said aerial photographs had been taken and would be sent to delegates at the talks in Copenhagen.
In Adelaide, activist James Dannenberg told state radio: "We want [world leaders] to bring home a treaty, we want them to stand by the Pacific and our neighbours there.In Adelaide, activist James Dannenberg told state radio: "We want [world leaders] to bring home a treaty, we want them to stand by the Pacific and our neighbours there.
"And we want them to deliver and ensure a safe climate future for us all.""And we want them to deliver and ensure a safe climate future for us all."
Thousands of demonstrators also gathered in front of Australia's parliament house in the capital, Canberra.Thousands of demonstrators also gathered in front of Australia's parliament house in the capital, Canberra.
On Friday, European Union leaders agreed a three-year deal to pay 7.2bn euros (£6.5bn; $10.6bn) to help poorer nations cope with climate change.
But leaders of developing countries and some aid agencies described the sum offered by the EU as inadequate.
Meanwhile, in Copenhagen, officials released a draft text of a possible final deal in which rich countries are asked to raise their pledges on greenhouse gas emissions cuts.
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