Saturday May 19 1:45 PM ET
World Bank, Fearing Violence, Scraps Spain Meeting

MADRID (Reuters) - The World Bank on Saturday said it had canceled a
conference on how to fight poverty due to take place in Spain next month
because of concerns anti-globalization groups would try to disrupt theevent.

``Despite our efforts to approach some of the groups that plan to
demonstrate and include them in the conference, the intention of many of
these groups...is to interrupt it,'' the World Bank said in a statement.

``A conference on reducing poverty should take place in an atmosphere of
peace, without provocation, violence or intimidation,'' the statement said.

The World Bank had planned to hold the conference on development between
June 25 and 27 in Barcelona.

Spain's Economy Ministry said the meeting would now take place via the
Internet.

Previous meetings by international organizations like the World Bank,
International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization have been
marred by violent clashes between police and anti-capitalism protesters.


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