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'Occupy' protests at financial crisis go worldwide 'Occupy' protests at financial crisis go worldwide
(40 minutes later)
Protests against alleged corporate greed and government cutbacks have been rippling around the world's cities. Protests against alleged corporate greed and government cutbacks have been held around the world's cities.
A large crowd gathered near the Colosseum in central Rome, where there were reports of a bank being attacked, and cars were set alight. In Rome, scene of one of the biggest rallies, riot police charged protesters after several cars were set alight and militants vandalised property.
Inspired by the Occupy Wall St movement and Spain's "Indignants", demonstrators turned out from Asia to Europe.Inspired by the Occupy Wall St movement and Spain's "Indignants", demonstrators turned out from Asia to Europe.
Organisers expect rallies in 82 countries, with the action due to come full circle in New York.Organisers expect rallies in 82 countries, with the action due to come full circle in New York.
In London, protesters plan to converge on the City for an "Occupy the London Stock Exchange" action. They said on their href="http://15october.net/" >website that the aim was to "initiate the global change we want".
Organisers of the 15 October worldwide protests said on their website that the aim was to "initiate the global change we want".
"United in one voice, we will let politicians, and the financial elites they serve, know it is up to us, the people, to decide our future," it said."United in one voice, we will let politicians, and the financial elites they serve, know it is up to us, the people, to decide our future," it said.
Slogans painted in the Spanish capital Madrid are full of anger at politicians accused of serving the banks, not the people, and frustration over an economic crisis which has hit the poor and the young very hard, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports.Slogans painted in the Spanish capital Madrid are full of anger at politicians accused of serving the banks, not the people, and frustration over an economic crisis which has hit the poor and the young very hard, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports.
'Huge issue' Masked militants
Organisers in Rome expect 100,000 people and television pictures showed streets packed with protesters, waving banners. Television pictures from Rome have showed streets packed with protesters, waving banners, close to the Colosseum.
Black smoke rose from at least one and some protesters waved flares in the sunlight. Witnesses blamed the attacks on cars and businesses on a small number of masked militants, dubbed the "black blocs" because of the colour of their clothes.
Most of Saturday's other rallies, however, have been small, with traffic barely disrupted. There was a message of support for the global day of protest from the chief of the Bank of Italy, Mario Draghi, who is set to take over as head of the European Central Bank (ECB) next month.
Hundreds of people marched in the New Zealand cities of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch while in the Australian city of Sydney, some 2,000 people - including representatives of Aboriginal groups, communists and trade unionists - gathered outside the central Reserve Bank of Australia. "Young people are right to be indignant," he was quoted by Italian media as saying in informal comments at the G20 summit in Paris.
"Occupy" protests were also being held in South Korea, the Philippines and in Hong Kong. "They're angry against the world of finance. I understand them... We adults are angry about the crisis. Can you imagine people who are in their twenties or thirties?"
At least 100 people gathered at the Taipei stock exchange, chanting "we are Taiwan's 99%", and saying economic growth had only benefited companies while middle-class salaries barely covered soaring housing, education and healthcare costs. Outside the ECB itself in Frankfurt, Germany, hundreds of people gathered to protest on Saturday.
"Not just in America, but in Taiwan too inequality is becoming a huge issue," one protester said. At least 1,000 people demonstrated in London's financial district but were prevented by police from reaching the Stock Exchange.
"You have to think to yourself, are we going in a good direction and how much further can this go before the fabric of society starts breaking down?" In Dublin, about 400 people marched to a hotel where an EU/IMF/ECB delegation involved in the country's ongoing financial bailout is staying, the Irish Times reports.
The BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei says such a demonstration is unusual for Taiwan, which has a tradition of looking to family rather than the state for welfare support. Madrid, where protests over the global crisis first began in May when hundreds took over the city's Puerta del Sol square, is to see its main demonstrations on Saturday evening, with all-night events planned.
Most of Saturday's rallies have been small, with traffic barely disrupted.
Hundreds of people marched in New Zealand cities while in Sydney, Australia, some 2,000 people - including representatives of Aboriginal groups, communists and trade unionists - rallied outside the central Reserve Bank of Australia.
"Occupy" protests were also been held in South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
It remains to be seen if any of the demonstrations turn into protest camps, such as Occupy Wall Street, which began with a small group of activists in New York's financial district a couple of months ago and has now grown to include several thousand people at times, from many walks of life.It remains to be seen if any of the demonstrations turn into protest camps, such as Occupy Wall Street, which began with a small group of activists in New York's financial district a couple of months ago and has now grown to include several thousand people at times, from many walks of life.
Naomi Colvin, an organiser of the protest outside the London Stock Exchange, said the nature of the rally would be dependent on those that turn up. Observers say that, while the original protesters in Spain had concrete demands such as seeking a cut in working hours to tackle unemployment, many "Occupy" protesters are vague in their demands.
Protests over the global crisis first began in the Spanish capital Madrid back in May, when hundreds took over the city's Puerta del Sol square.
Observers say that, while protesters in Spain had concrete demands such as seeking a cut in working hours to tackle unemployment, many "Occupy" protesters are vague in their demands.
Are you taking part in "Occupy" protests? Send us your stories using the form below.Are you taking part in "Occupy" protests? Send us your stories using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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