Thousands of anti-globalisation demonstrators have marched through the centre of the north German city of Hamburg protesting against a meeting of EU and Asian ministers. The protesters erected barricades and police responded with water cannon and baton charges after being pelted with bottles and stones. Police said that 24 people had been arrested. The protests took place on the first day of a two-day conference between foreign ministers from the EU and Asian countries. Topics slated for discussion include the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East and climate change.