Massive protest against 60th NATO Summit

France: Over 60,000 people were forced to take detour in Strasburg on saturday as anti-NATO protesters tangled the streets of the Alsatian city of Strasbourghe for the second day in a row.

About 600 international organizations from 43 countries, including 50 from the French Anti-NATO-Afghanistan front, have gathered in Strasbourghe, which is hosting a summit celebrating the western military bloc’s 60th anniversary. Peace Movement co-chairwoman Arielle Denis said the march will cover four miles in an uninhabited area close to the Rhine Port, and very far from the Congress Palace where the 28 NATO leaders are meeting.

The idea is to show our absolute rejection to a military alliance always dedicated to promote wars in the world, members of the Movement against Racisms and for Peace in France told Prensa Latina.

While the NATO leaders meet, thousand of people have been unable to visit historical places like Grand Ile and other touristic places. Businesses have been closed and public transportation halted in a city dominated by the explosions of Molotov cocktails and tear gas canisters protesters and riot police launch at each other.

A similar scenario takes place in the neighboring German cities of Kehl and Baden Baden, which co-host the NATO summit. According to official sources over 25,000 German and French soldiers are trying to keep order around the Congress Palace here. A German photographer and two riot policemen have been reported wounded so far.

Strasbourghe, France, Prensa Latina