"The two-day event is organised by members of the far-right group Pro-Koeln (For Cologne), who were pelted with stones and paint bombs hurled by about 100 leftist activists. Scuffles also broke out between the two groups, police said.

Counter-demonstrators carried signs with slogans including "Stop the Nazi Congress -- Stop Pro Koeln" and a few scuffled with the right-wing organisers. Six leftist protesters and a right-winger were taken into police custody".

All sorts of stuff has been happening over the last few days with demonstaters blockading streets and tram stops to prevent the Anti-Islam rally from going ahead. Counter-demonstrations were called by trade unions, churches and anti-racist movements and were expected to attract between 40,000 and 60,000 people.

Several hundred opponents of the congress on Friday formed a human chain around a mosque in solidarity with the Muslim minority, which numbers more than 3 million in Germany, or 4 percent of the population. Counter-demonstrators carried signs with slogans including "Stop the Nazi Congress -- Stop Pro Koeln", while some leftist activists threw stones and paint-bombs.

Six leftist protesters and a right-winger were taken into police custody late Friday.