Clare Short, the international development secretary, said she sympathised with the peaceful protesters at Genoa but even they should think again. "It costs a fortune to get everybody flying into these summits," she said. "The money people spend coming from the rich world to protest on behalf of the poor could be directed into doing more in the developing world.

"The violent protesters are both nasty in what they do but also they are confusing international debate, because they are trying to destroy all our global institutions."

The Genoa Social Forum, the umbrella group which led the peaceful protest, said the violence was unacceptable: "We have been provoked by a level of state and anarchist violence that was unimaginable and unexpected. The G8 and the Italian government must be blamed, but we must accept our share of responsibility."

Bob Marley said, "How long must they steal our property while we stand aside and look" "Emacipate yourself from mental slavery, none but we can free our minds"

You choose!