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Anti-Bush March Repressed in
Guatemala
Special forces from the
Guatemalan Army and police
repressed hundreds of
demonstrators, who were
protesting when local
authorities were officially
welcoming US President George W.
Bush.Mexicans Reject Bush Visit
The demonstrators, chanting
slogans against Bush s visit to
Guatemala, succeeded in getting
some 330 feet from the
government seating, where a
triple cordon of special agents
from the army and police stopped
them.
After more than two hours of
protests, during which leaders
from different social sectors
gave speeches, the security
forces began throwing tear gas
and beating the demonstrators.
The attack took place despite
the peaceful nature of the
protest, which was aimed at
expressing the people s
discomfort at Bush s visit, at a
time when the United States is
stepping up repatriations of
Guatemalans from the US.
Four demonstrators were arrested
during the clashes, and several
people suffered tear gas
poisoning.
Since early morning rigorous
checkpoints were set up in the
capital s historic heart, about
two miles around the National
Palace of Culture.
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