Thousands of activists took to the streets of Caracas on Tuesday in an anti-globalization demonstration as the World Social Forum was kicked off.

Protesters came from across the Americas, including a Cuban delegation and several hundred Americans, some chanting slogans against U.S. President George W. Bush.

The six-day forum will feature over 1,800 panels on issues as diverse as foreign debt, world trade, and inter-religious dialogue.

Organizers of the forum said the demonstration will give an anti-war, anti-imperialist tone to the Caracas forum.

They said over 100,000 people, including trade unionists, environmentalists, indigenous groups, leftist parliamentarians, anarchists, gay activists and advocates for marijuana legalization would take part in the event.

Julio Fermin, one of the organizers, said delegations to the forum would propose ideas and exchange experience in building a better world.

First launched in 2001, the World Social Forum is devoted to finding alternatives to neo-liberal economic policies.

Source: Xinhua