Street clashes flare in Copenhagen, 300 arrested

COPENHAGEN, Dec 17 (Reuters) More than 300 demonstrators were arrested in the Danish capital after violent clashes between police and youths who were protesting against the planned closure of a youth centre in the city.

Several hundred demonstrators threw cobblestones, bottles and fireworks at police and erected blazing barricades made from Christmas trees, trash cans and bicycles, police said.

''It was extremely violent. It looked like a war zone and it's been many years since we last had to use tear gas on the streets,'' police spokesman Flemming Steen Munch told reporters yesterday.

Police responded with tear gas attacks and split the main crowd of demonstrators into several smaller ones using armoured cars.

Groups of demonstrators walked toward the city centre smashing shop windows, leaving a trail of destruction.

The conflict over the youth centre has been brewing since 2000 when local government sold the building that houses the centre. Left-wing activist have been using the centre as a base since 1982.

The current owners have a court order to have the squatters evicted but the youths have sworn to protect the house and have repeatedly called for a political solution.

Danish media reported that at least four police officers and several demonstrators were injured in the clashes.

REUTERS PDS BST0508