SANTIAGO (AFP) - Chilean riot police fired water and tear gas at masked, stone-throwing anti-capitalist protesters as leaders flew in for a major Asia-Pacific summit overshadowed by the "war on terror."
The mayhem provided a violent backdrop to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where President George W. Bush`s security agenda and and nuclear proliferation appeared set to eclipse talk of trade and the economy.
As a rally of tens of thousands of people culminated with a concert in a central Santiago park, masked protesters wrecked telephone cabins, smashed lamps and lobbed stones at police and through the windows of a closed McDonalds restaurant.
Military-style police in armored cars responded with water and tear gas, scattering people in the park. Organizers halted the concert.
Only moments earlier, there had been a near carnival-like atmosphere.
Earlier in the day, police used the same tactics to prevent an unauthorized march, dispersing protesters as they clustered in the sidestreets and main Alameda boulevard, not far from where APEC leaders, including Bush, were to convene.
"This gathering is not authorized. Go away," a loudspeaker blared from an armored car fitted with water cannon.
In an extraordinary clampdown, officials have declared a citywide holiday, prompting a long-weekend exodus from Santiago.
More than 5,000 military-style police joined the security operation.
By evening, security forces had hauled about 130 protesters away, police said. At least six journalists, two police and an unknown number of demonstrators were hurt, media and other sources said.
Leaders of the 21 APEC economies, including Bush and his partners from China, Japan and Russia, huddle at the weekend in Santiago`s neoclassical Moneda Palace, in sight of the snow-crested Andes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the afternoon. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi are expected later in the day.
On Saturday, the US leader will hold a summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao, a highlight of the gatherings.
Both have consolidated their positions, with Bush reelected and Hu completing his grip on power by adding the military commission to his domain. Major topics could include the North Korean nuclear crisis and US complaints that the yuan is undervalued.
APEC foreign ministers, including outgoing US Secretary of State Colin Powell, set the tone for the summit, agreeing in talks here to keep closer tabs on shoulder-mounted missile launchers capable of downing a plane.
"There was also a focus on export controls and, in particular, export controls on materials that could be used for weapons of mass destruction," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.
In a main ministerial "retreat" Thursday, the ministers broached the North Korean nuclear crisis.
There was "a general agreement that all of us in the region have to put increasing pressure on the North Koreans to participate in the six-party talks," the Australian minister said.
Three rounds of multilateral talks, seeking to persuade Pyongyang to take aid and security guarantees in return for mothballing the nuclear program, have taken place since the standoff erupted in October 2002.
North Korea boycotted a fourth round of talks in September, bringing together the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States in Beijing. All but North Korea are members of APEC.
Aside from discussing terrorism, leaders are likely to supported a swift conclusion to bogged down World Trade Organization negotiations for a new deal freeing up global trade.
11/19/2004 - 23:11 GMT - AFP