Danish police detains 100 after Copenhagen clashes

COPENHAGEN, March 3 (Reuters) Danish police detained about 100 people during fresh violence in Copenhagen early today, two days after the eviction of left-wing squatters from a youth centre sparked a wave of protests.

One demonstrator was injured when an illegal but peaceful demonstration and street party with live music in the multi-ethnic, working class Norrebro neighbourhood turned into clashes after midnight in St Hans Square.

''Some 100 people were taken into custody so far,'' said Copenhagen police spokesman Flemming Steen Munch.

Police had been expecting more unrest on Friday night after more than 200 people were taken into custody on Thursday night following clashes with police over the eviction of the youth centre in an early morning raid. Two police officers and two demonstrators were hurt in clashes on Thursday.

Activists have vowed to keep up protests to win back control of the youth centre, which the local government had sold in 2000 to a religious group. They said more protests were planned later in the day.

Today's violence began when some demonstrators started digging up cobblestones and mask their faces. Police vans entered the square.

Some demonstrators hurled Molotov cocktails at the police, who responded with teargas and chased demonstrators through the streets. Activists set several cars on fire.

Earlier yesterday Minister of justice Lena Espersen urged the youngsters and their supporters to avoid violence, and praised the way police dealt with Thursday's protests.

''The police's work meant that luckily very few people were hurt,'' she said in a statement.

The youths have repeatedly called for a political solution to the dispute over the youth centre but rejected a proposal to move to another building.

Jan, a spokesman for the youth centre, said activists planned to disrupt traffic on Saturday, with ''pin-point actions creating short breakdowns and disruptions. For example, having a dinner party in the street''.

''The struggle will continue for a long time. As long as there is no Youth House in Copenhagen, there will be a fight to get one,'' he said.

Local news agency Ritzau reported that there were six to seven fires around Norrebro, and also one near Christiania in the early morning today.

REUTERS PDM RK0935