'Black bloc' battle

Police in Geneva fired tear gas and rubber bullets yesterday to separate violent demonstrators from a protest of a meeting of top world trade officials, but the hooded "black bloc" activists were able to cause damage before 14 were arrested.

The protesters set fire to at least four cars, broke shop windows and committed other acts of violence, police spokesman Patrick Puhl said.

The clashes occurred during a march by demonstrators protesting against a meeting of the World Trade Organisation scheduled to start tomorrow.