Today more than 20.000 people converged to Naples from all over Italy to protest against a meeting of the Global Forum, a conference of government and technology leaders.
Around 5,000 riot police were drafted into the city in the last few days, sealing off the centre with barricades and riot vehicles to prevent demonstrators from reaching Piazza Plebiscito where the meeting was taking place.
Street fights erupted when the protesters tried to force the blockade. Police fired teargas and charged many times the crowd that responded by throwing rocks and trying to push back the riot police. The battle lasted for about 40 minutes and the situation is still tense.
Several people have been injured including 60 cops and a similar number of demonstrators. At least 16 protesters have been arrested. According to RKC, an Italian independent radio, a reporter from IMC-Italy is among the people arrested by the police.

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