A peaceful protest was launched in Sydney as the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting kicked off Saturday at the city's iconic Opera House.
The protestors gathered at Sydney's Town Hall from about 9:30 a. m. local time before marching along Park Street on the route approved by the police.
The gathering displayed a non-violence atmosphere upon reaching to the Hyde Park North at the city center. The police estimated that Some 5,000 participated in the following demonstration.
Protestors chanted slogans and lifted banners themed against U. S. President Bush or APEC.
Some of the chants blasted the police handling of the APEC security measures for violating "the democracy and the human rights."
"I want Bush out of this country," Leonard Colton, a 45-year- old nurse told Xinhua.
He said the Australian government is conducting a wrong policy to be allied with "powerful evil countries" like the United States.
Colton, a veteran U.S. army medic having served the Iraq War in 1989, said he immigrated to Australia 12 years ago for the resentment over "the war-junkie U.S."
Those among the demonstrators were people who have neutral opinions on the APEC meetings.
Annabel Barnes, a 19-year student at the University of New South Walsh, presented a placard read "climate change kills us all. "
"I don't have sayings against anyone and I just want to call for people's attention on the issue of climate change," Barnes said.
A fence of police personnel was planted along the Park Street to harness the demonstrators inside the park.
Meanwhile, police riot vehicles blocked the northern side of the street intersections to prevent the protestors from flooding the APEC security zone.
Local media reported that two police officers were injured in a minor clash and three protestors were detained. However, the much more messy violent scene which the police have anticipated did not realize.
The APEC Leaders Meeting, grouping leaders from 21 economies, will conclude on Sunday.
Source: Xinhua
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