In Copenhagen, tensions overflow into the streets

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - As ministers and heads of state from all over the world pour into Copenhagen for the final stretch of the climate talks, tensions heated up between political activists, the United Nations staff, and the Danish police. The demonstrations were orchestrated around the Danish capital, and even penetrated the Bella Center. Meanwhile, various international environmental NGOs such as the Friends of the Earth have been unexpectedly denied access to the Bella Center. Meanwhile, rumors began to swirl about the reasons for Connie Hedegaard's resignation as president of the conference. Hedegaard, former Danish climate minister, resigned from the conference presidency to allow her boss, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen to preside. At around 12 noon Wednesday (Denmark), some 150 activists walked out of the Bella Center to protest what they see as world leaders' unwillingness to seal a deal that will protect the world's most vulnerable people. When the activists attempted to join another group of protesters outside the Bella Center, Danish police threatened to arrest them and violence nearly erupted.

The Danish government recently passed a law allowing police to conduct "preemptive" arrests for acts of civil disobedience. - SD, GMANews.TV