Demonstrators evade police at G8 summit (1st Lead)

Jun 6, 2007, 9:23 GMT

Heiligendamm, Germany - Thousands of demonstrators determined to conduct a sit-down protest at the G8 summit evaded a police road block and streamed towards the summit venue Wednesday.

Only 50 police were posted near a protest camp at Reddelich, a village close to the summit press centre in Bad Doberan. The protesters ran through woods.

On a road at the other side of the woods, they hurled branches of trees onto the tarmac to briefly obstruct police vehicles and enable a further advance. Ten police helicopters observed the cat-and-mouse game from above.

Police had earlier warned the public in Germany to expect delays on roads near the Heiligendamm G8 summit because of sit-down protests.

Ulf Erler, a spokesman for the summit police unit code-named Kavala, said on ZDF television 30 demonstrations were planned for Wednesday in the Baltic coast area.

Police have coordinated in advance with the protesters. Under a policing approach known as de-escalation, the police are expected to tolerate crowds holding up traffic briefly.

Erler appealed to the German public to put up with any delays caused by sit-down protesters. This was implicit in the de-escalation strategy, he said.

Peaceful protesters, who have condemned rioting and attacks on police lines, say they want to disrupt the summit but will only break the law to the extent of obstructing arrivals by the mass of their bodies.

The sit-ins are being led by a faction in the broad protest movement which considers the G8 as evil and wants to stop the summit, but disagrees with the violent tactics of the most radical faction, known as the Black Block.

Civic groups which accept the G8 meeting but want to persuade western leaders to offer more aid to Africa, have organized rallies which do not disrupt and are attending an 'Alternative Summit' in Rostock.