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Germany AfD meeting: Clashes before far-right conference | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Hundreds of left-wing demonstrators have tried to block people entering a far-right party conference in the German city of Stuttgart. | Hundreds of left-wing demonstrators have tried to block people entering a far-right party conference in the German city of Stuttgart. |
The Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party is expected to re-brand itself as openly anti-Islamic during the meeting. | The Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party is expected to re-brand itself as openly anti-Islamic during the meeting. |
Police, who surrounded several hundred protesters, fired pepper spray at crowds. Close to 1,000 officers were deployed. | Police, who surrounded several hundred protesters, fired pepper spray at crowds. Close to 1,000 officers were deployed. |
The AfD wants to ban the burqa and outlaw minarets in Germany. | The AfD wants to ban the burqa and outlaw minarets in Germany. |
Despite the protest, the conference began as planned on Saturday morning. | Despite the protest, the conference began as planned on Saturday morning. |
Germany jolted by right-wing poll success | Germany jolted by right-wing poll success |
Guide to Europe's nationalist parties | Guide to Europe's nationalist parties |
Nearly 2,000 members of the AfD are registered to attend the conference. The party achieved gains in all three states taking part in regional elections last month, claiming almost a quarter of the vote in the relatively poor eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. | Nearly 2,000 members of the AfD are registered to attend the conference. The party achieved gains in all three states taking part in regional elections last month, claiming almost a quarter of the vote in the relatively poor eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. |
It had campaigned against what it called Chancellor Angela Merkel's "catastrophic" decision to accept a million migrants and refugees in 2015. | It had campaigned against what it called Chancellor Angela Merkel's "catastrophic" decision to accept a million migrants and refugees in 2015. |
In Saturday's conference, the party must agree a manifesto ahead of next year's general election. | In Saturday's conference, the party must agree a manifesto ahead of next year's general election. |
Proposals include withdrawal from the euro and the reintroduction of conscription, but there are splits within the party, including between its less hardline wing and the leadership. | Proposals include withdrawal from the euro and the reintroduction of conscription, but there are splits within the party, including between its less hardline wing and the leadership. |
Before the conference, police encircled groups of demonstrators in a technique known as kettling. Some protesters were seen being dragged away, with others chanting 'Shame on you' at officers. | Before the conference, police encircled groups of demonstrators in a technique known as kettling. Some protesters were seen being dragged away, with others chanting 'Shame on you' at officers. |
Police did not say how many people were arrested. | Police did not say how many people were arrested. |
March state election results | March state election results |
More on AfD | More on AfD |