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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Street clashes erupt in Germany | Street clashes erupt in Germany |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Thousands of left-wing demonstrators gathered to protest against an extreme right-wing rally have clashed with police in the German city of Cologne. | |
| Police said about 3,000 protesters threw stones at officers, while some tried to steal their weapons. | Police said about 3,000 protesters threw stones at officers, while some tried to steal their weapons. |
| Violence erupted after the protesters tried to halt an "anti-Islamification" rally, which police eventually banned. | Violence erupted after the protesters tried to halt an "anti-Islamification" rally, which police eventually banned. |
| The extreme-right Pro-Koeln group had sought to protest against plans to build one of Europe's biggest mosques. | The extreme-right Pro-Koeln group had sought to protest against plans to build one of Europe's biggest mosques. |
| The police said the decision to ban the rally was a matter of public safety. | The police said the decision to ban the rally was a matter of public safety. |
| 'Immigrant invasion' | 'Immigrant invasion' |
| Some 3,000 police had been drafted in and part of the old city was sealed off as authorities appealed for peaceful protests against a two-day congress called by the Pro-Koeln (Pro-Cologne) group. | Some 3,000 police had been drafted in and part of the old city was sealed off as authorities appealed for peaceful protests against a two-day congress called by the Pro-Koeln (Pro-Cologne) group. |
| The mosque is not due to be completed until 2009 | The mosque is not due to be completed until 2009 |
| Pro-Koeln had hoped 1,500 people would attend the rally in the city centre to oppose the mosque and what they say is an "immigrant invasion" of Europe. | Pro-Koeln had hoped 1,500 people would attend the rally in the city centre to oppose the mosque and what they say is an "immigrant invasion" of Europe. |
| The municipal council has approved the building of the domed mosque, which will have two 55m (177ft) minarets, in the city's heavily immigrant Ehrenfeld district. | The municipal council has approved the building of the domed mosque, which will have two 55m (177ft) minarets, in the city's heavily immigrant Ehrenfeld district. |
| Far-right leaders from Belgium, Austria and Italy had come to the city for the congress. | Far-right leaders from Belgium, Austria and Italy had come to the city for the congress. |
| It was due to culminate in a rally against "Islamification" and in support of Europe's "shared, 1,000-year history" and "Western values and Christian traditions". | It was due to culminate in a rally against "Islamification" and in support of Europe's "shared, 1,000-year history" and "Western values and Christian traditions". |
| Earlier, the leftist demonstrators blocked two Pro-Koeln leaders from entering the conference venue, pursuing them as they sought refuge on a boat. | Earlier, the leftist demonstrators blocked two Pro-Koeln leaders from entering the conference venue, pursuing them as they sought refuge on a boat. |
| Police say they responded with batons after left-wing protesters set fire to barricades. | Police say they responded with batons after left-wing protesters set fire to barricades. |
| In a speech earlier on Saturday, Cologne Mayor Fritz Schramma labelled Pro-Koeln "arsonists and racists" hiding under the cloak of a "citizens' movement". | In a speech earlier on Saturday, Cologne Mayor Fritz Schramma labelled Pro-Koeln "arsonists and racists" hiding under the cloak of a "citizens' movement". |
| Germany is home to three million Muslims, who make up 4% of the population. | Germany is home to three million Muslims, who make up 4% of the population. |