Police and protesters (The Usual Suspects) clash at tennis
Agence France-Presse
From correspondents in Malmoe, Sweden
March 08, 2009 01:37am
MORE than 100 masked demonstrators (Gee I wonder who would do such a thing... masked demonstrators in Malmoe Sweeden you say? Hmmm thinking, thinking) clashed today with Swedish police outside a sports arena amid a larger protest against the Scandinavian country's Davis Cup tie against Israel.
Youths clad in black, their faces covered with masks, threw bottles of paint, stones and firecrackers at police in riot squad vans and on horseback, sending the horses into a panic.
One of the demonstrators climbed onto a police van and, applauded by the crowd, stomped on its flashing lights until they were smashed to bits.
The large police deployment then charged the demonstrators, who were shouting "Stop the Match!'', and arrested at least five people, police spokesman Lars-Haakan Lindholm said.
The violent demonstrators, described as anarchists, were part of a larger, authorised demonstration organised by the 'Stop the Match' network to protest against Israel's recent offensive in Gaza.
The march gathered between 6000 and 10,000 demonstrators, according to various estimates from police and organisers.
Citing security fears, Malmoe city council had ordered the three-day World Group first round match played behind closed doors.
Yesterday, about 200 people demonstrated peacefully outside the Baltiska Hallen arena, as Sweden and Israel each won a singles match.
Today a doubles match was underway, pitting Simon Aspelin and Robert Lindstedt of Sweden against Israel's Amir Hadad and Andy Ram.
Inside the stadium, only teams, media and guests were allowed in the stands.
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