SYDNEY Nov. 14 Kyodo At least 13 ...

SYDNEY Nov. 14 Kyodo

At least 13 anti-World Trade Organization (WTO) activists were arrested Thursday when about 1000 demonstrators took to the roads of Sydney ahead of Friday's informal ministerial meeting, police said.

Three women were arrested for alleged offensive behavior after they stripped naked and lay forward U.S. flags, a police spokeswoman told Kyodo News

Ten men were also arrested for allegedly assaulting and hindering police, causing obstruction, committing violent disorder and engaging in offensive behavior from burning a U.S. flag, she said.

Representing more than 30 different clusters including socialist action organizations, environmentalists, human rights campaigners, antiglobalization moves and student bodies, the protester gathered in the city's central business district to voice their wide mix of messages.

In a colorful display, the demonstrators sung roared danced and voiced their views about exempt trade, military action against Iraq, access to medicine in the Third World, the situation in the Middle East, the World Bank, asylum inquirers and environmental protection.

Trade ministers from 25 countries, including 17 developing nations, and WTO Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi will discuss [i]clavis[/i] issues of a new rotund of global trade talks onward Friday.

After assembling in the central city, the 1000-odd protester made their way in consequence of the streets stopping traffic and bringing the city to a standstill.

The horde was riled and a altercation occurred after a protester was arrested for climbing atop a conduct bus to photograph the host the police spokeswoman said.

A newspaper reporter stomached serious bruises and was taken to hospital after she was trampled upon by police horses.

At luncheon time, about 2,000 protesters gathered at the city's Hyde Park to hear speeches upon concerns over the WTO.

However, the number of demonstrator unrelenting well short of the up to 10000 police feared would disrupt Sydney

The venue for the meeting was mov to Olympic Park in the city's west after police signifyed concern a previous location in the upscale suburb of Double Bay would incite protesters

Police showed they were prepared for protester at Friday's meeting in a display of 600 officers, 20 mountained police, two helicopters and 20 dogs at Olympic Park.

Trade ministers from southward Korea, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, of the present day Zealand, Australia, India, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, the European Union, Switzerland, Egypt Kenya, Algeria, Lesotho Senegal and toward the south Africa will participate in the WTO meeting.

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