Protesters arrested as violent clashes erupt at EU summit

CLASHES between protesters and riot police threatened to overshadow the European summit in Barcelona last night, as Tony Blair stepped up the pressure on France over its refusal to import British beef.

Yesterday passed with only ten arrests, but plans for a larger anti-globalisation demonstration today have seen nearly 10,000 police move into the city in a major security clampdown.

The talks have already been marred by violent scenes, where baton-wielding officers charged a group of protesters who had gathered in the city centre.

The Prime Minister told Lionel Jospin, his French counterpart, that Britain was becoming increasingly irritated with France’s determination to defy international law and uphold the ban.

The summit in Barcelona has been called to discuss the slow pace of economic reform in the Eurozone countries and will focus on France’s failure to liberalise its electricity market.

Mr Blair, however, sought to introduce several other issues to the agenda. Downing Street said he made a priority of talking to Mr Jospin about his stance on British beef.

"The Prime Minister made clear that he hoped the French government would comply with the ruling of the European Court of Justice," a No10 spokesman said. Mr Blair also won an assurance from Romano Prodi, the European Commission president, that Brussels would take action against France if it failed to comply.

"The Commission sees this as an important test that European law should be upheld," the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

Yesterday’s protests began when police vans started arriving and scuffles began between police and activists. Bottles and caf chairs were thrown. As shopkeepers rapidly closed their shutters, hundreds of people fled down narrow side-streets.

Some of those fleeing shouted: "Carlo vive" ("Carlo lives"), in homage to Carlo Giuliani, a protester who was shot dead by police during riots at an international summit in Genoa, Italy, last July.

Several of the demonstrators wore black handkerchiefs over their faces. One hurled a metal drain cover at the window of a bank; others threw pots and chairs at police. They were arrested on charges of "damaging street furniture".

Police are now on hand to ensure planned protests by anti-globalisation and other pressure groups do not create the violent chaos seen at previous international summits.