Anti-globalization protesters clashed with the police Saturday in Germany's northern port city of Rostock, while about 10,000 demonstrators took to street in Britain's capital of London to urge Group of Eight (G-8) leaders to keep their anti-poverty promises.

German television quoted eyewitnesses as saying that scores of people were injured in street clashes in Rostock as masked protesters threw stones, bottles, sticks and fireworks towards the 13,000-strong police force.

The violence left 146 police officers injured, 25 of whom were hurt seriously. There was no immediate information on the casualties of the protesters. Witnesses said dozens of protesters have been arrested, but a police spokesperson declined to confirm how many were detained.

Cars were burnt and overturned, and windows were broken.

Helicopters were hovering over the city center as armored police vehicles were removing burning blocks.

Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of people participated in a peaceful demonstration against G-8 summit scheduled for June 6-8 in nearby city of Heiligendamm.

Police estimated the number of the demonstrators at 25,000, but organizers claimed it was 80,000.

In London, demonstrators gathered near the Houses of Parliament, chanting slogans like "G-8, the world cannot wait," blowing whistles and horning.

Police said the rally was incident-free.

Leaders from Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Russia, Japan, the United States and Canada will attend the summit, to be hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

They are expected to discuss topics of climate change, Africa, global economy and regional crisis.

As many as 16,000 police officers, a record number, will be deployed to protect the summit.

Border controls have been reinstated in Germany to prevent potential terrorists and anti-globalization protesters from entering.

A 2.5-meter-tall and 13-kilometer-long barbed wire security fence were built around the summit venue.

Source: Xinhua