Clashes over Islam

Police stood between hundreds of anti-Islam protesters and anti-racist counter-demonstrators in the English city of Manchester yesterday, arresting 48 people in a bid to keep the peace.

Police locked down a section of the city centre as about 2000 people gathered.

A group called the English Defence League, which says it opposes militant Islam, squared off against a larger group of counter-demonstrators from the group Unite Against Fascism.

Manchester is the latest English city to be hit with tensions. Troubles also have occurred in Luton, Birmingham and London in the last few months involving a loose collection of far-right groups.