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| Germany AfD conference: Hundreds of protesters detained outside venue | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A meeting of Germany's right-wing anti-immigrant party Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) has been marred by clashes outside the venue in Stuttgart. | |
| About 1,000 police were deployed to keep supporters apart from left-wing protesters, who blocked roads, burned tyres and threw firecrackers. | |
| About 400 protesters were temporarily detained as the conference began. | |
| Delegates are due to vote on Sunday on a manifesto which some members want to endorse an openly anti-Islamic stance. | |
| The party wants to ban the burka and outlaw minarets in Germany. | |
| A police spokesman said protesters threw stones at officers and let off fireworks in their direction. | A police spokesman said protesters threw stones at officers and let off fireworks in their direction. |
| Riot police used tear gas, pepper spray and a water cannon to keep the protesters back. | Riot police used tear gas, pepper spray and a water cannon to keep the protesters back. |
| 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 |
| One demonstrator, Dominik Schmeiser, said: "We are united by our conviction that we cannot let the AfD go unchallenged, and that it is a party which is not only racist, but which is engaged in the politics of exclusion and social division. | |
| "We will not allow ourselves to be divided and we stand together for a compassionate society." | |
| Despite the protest, the conference began as planned. | |
| The party's leader Frauke Petry attacked the German chancellor Angela Merkel, saying the "silent majority" thought she was "nothing but naked". | |
| She said the AfD wanted to make a big impact in German politics. | |
| "In the future we do not want to remain sitting in parliament as a junior partner, a small opposition party," Ms Petry said. | |
| The AfD 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 Mrs 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 meeting, police encircled groups of demonstrators in a technique known as kettling. Some protesters were seen being dragged away, as others chanted "Shame on you" at officers. | Before the meeting, police encircled groups of demonstrators in a technique known as kettling. Some protesters were seen being dragged away, as others chanted "Shame on you" at officers. |
| March state election results | March state election results |
| More on AfD | More on AfD |