Running battles conclude EU summit

Saturday, 16 March, 2002, 23:09 GMT

Police in Barcelona have fired tear gas and rubber bullets during running skirmishes with protesters marching in response to the EU economic summit, which ended on Saturday.

The trouble - which left 18 injured, including seven policemen - came towards the end of a march which for the most part was noisy but peaceful.

The BBC's Malcolm Brabant says it is not clear how the clashes began, but the vast majority of the marchers, from anti-globalisation campaigners to Basque nationalists, were not involved.

The EU leaders had earlier agreed a number of moves designed to push forward free-market reforms.

The centre-piece was a compromise deal to allow competition in supplies of gas and electricity to businesses from 2004.

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