Rebel clowns are in town

MEMBERS of an anarchist splinter group have arrived in the Capital and pitched up their headquarters beside George Square.

The Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army (Circa) are planning to carry out "non-violent direct action" during G8 demonstrations.

The group has also pledged to recruit up to 50 locals to join their ranks and undergo training in protest techniques including role playing and street theatre.

The training courses will be held at their solar-powered caravan - which the group calls the Laboratory of Insurrectionary Imagination.

One member, who would only identify himself as Kolonel Klepto, said: "We will use non-violent direct action to protest against the co-option of the anti-poverty movement by people like Gordon Brown. But we won't disrupt the march as we believe in the message."

Circa aim to use "fun and creativity" to make their protests during the rally, but admit members will work to disrupt the summit at Gleneagles by taking part in a blockade of the area.

Kolonel Klepto added: "We're in Edinburgh to recruitMEMBERS of an anarchist splinter group have arrived in the Capital and pitched up their headquarters beside George Square.

The Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army (Circa) are planning to carry out "non-violent direct action" during G8 demonstrations.

The group has also pledged to recruit up to 50 locals to join their ranks and undergo training in protest techniques including role playing and street theatre.

The training courses will be held at their solar-powered caravan - which the group calls the Laboratory of Insurrectionary Imagination.

One member, who would only identify himself as Kolonel Klepto, said: "We will use non-violent direct action to protest against the co-option of the anti-poverty movement by people like Gordon Brown. But we won't disrupt the march as we believe in the message."

Circa aim to use "fun and creativity" to make their protests during the rally, but admit members will work to disrupt the summit at Gleneagles by taking part in a blockade of the area.

Kolonel Klepto added: "We're in Edinburgh to recruit people and encourage them to take part in Operation HaHaHaa which stands for Helping Authorities House Arrest Half-witted Authoritarian Androids. We help to keep the leaders behind the fence where they belong."

Kolonel Klepto denied the group were all anarchists, saying: "Some are but most would consider themselves 'horizontalists' where we engage people without the need for leaders." people and encourage them to take part in Operation HaHaHaa which stands for Helping Authorities House Arrest Half-witted Authoritarian Androids. We help to keep the leaders behind the fence where they belong."

Kolonel Klepto denied the group were all anarchists, saying: "Some are but most would consider themselves 'horizontalists' where we engage people without the need for leaders."