Violence erupts at climate summit as police and protestors clash

Police have used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds of protestors from disrupting the the UN climate summit in Copenhagen.

Authorities say they have made 220 arrests.

The mass protest is going ahead to mark the “ministerial” phase of the two-week climate conference.

The movements for global justice intended to take over the conference for the day and transform it into a people’s assembly.

However, police have now blocked all access to the Bella Centre, the venue for the summit.

Activists are calling the day of action “Reclaim Power” and describe it as a “confrontational mass action of non-violent civil disobedience.”

Danish police have been handed special powers to detain protestors, described by action groups as draconian and heavy handed.

Earlier around 200 delegates disrupted sessions inside the conference itself.

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