Genoa protester case dismissed

An Italian court has dismissed a case against a policeman who shot dead a protester during anti- globalisation riots in Genoa two years ago.

The judge ruled that the paramilitary police officer Mario Placanica had acted in legitimate self defence.

He had shot 23-year-old Carlo Giuliani during clashes with demonstrators during a summit of the world's richest nations.

He was the first fatality since the anti-globalisation movement began staging protests at world meetings in 1999.

Correspondents say Carlo Giuliani has become a symbol of the movement.

'Excessive force'

His father, Giuliano Giuliani, said he was "deeply disappointed" that the case had been dismissed.

"We were not asking for Placanica to be convicted, but we wanted a trial to take place," he was quoted as saying in the Italian press.

"The dismissal of the case makes me suspect that they want to conceal the truth."

Some 100,000 protesters gathered in Genoa for the G8 summit in July 2001.

Police fought running battles with rioting anarchists and protesters, and used tear gas and water canon to protect the fenced zone around the summit headquarters.

Giuliani was shot dead as a police van was attacked by rioters.

Hundreds of protesters were injured during the clashes.

A month after the summit, the head of the Italian police admitted that officers used excessive force in dealing with demonstrators.