Russians Denounce Bush & Burn Old Glory

Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit

Reuters via The Miami Herald - May 23, 2002
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/3322450.htm

RUSSIANS DENOUNCE BUSH, BURN FLAG

MOSCOW, May 23 (Reuters)--Several hundred Russians burned the
American flag and denounced President Bush Thursday as the he flew in
for four days of summit talks.

But the protests in both Moscow and St. Petersburg were largely
peaceful and no serious incidents were reported.

Shortly before Bush flew into Moscow from Germany, Russian
authorities launched a major security operation, posting snipers on
rooftops at the airport and near Bush's city center hotel.

Minor scuffles broke out at the demonstrations in both the capital
and in the second city St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir
Putin's home town, where the two will also hold talks.

In Moscow, a number of protesters were briefly detained for identity
checks outside the U.S. embassy. Police pushed back several hundred
demonstrators trying to advance on the building.

"Yankee go home!" some shouted in English.

"Down with Putin's pro-American policy," one placard read.

In St. Petersburg, a few dozen protesters gathered outside the city's
university, some trampling on an American flag, others holding aloft
the flag of U.S. foe Iraq.

"We do not like the policies of Bush or Putin," one protester who
identified himself as a tram driver told Reuters Television. "They
make the rich richer and the poor poorer."

At one point, protesters scuffled with a passing American tourist but
police quickly broke it up.

 
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nytmid-05.23.02-15:47:32-25565