UPDATED ON:
Saturday, March 07, 2009
21:21 Mecca time, 18:21 GMT
News Europe
Anti-Israel protest turns violent

The match was played without fans
in the arena [AFP]
 

Anti-Israel protesters have clashed with police outside a Davis cup match played in Malmo in southern Sweden.

The game between Sweden and Israel is being played without an audience because the police could not guarantee the security of the players.

About 100 masked protesters tried to storm the arena in Malmo on Saturday afternoon, throwing rocks and firecrackers at the police who had put up barricades outside the stadium. 

Hundreds of police pushed the crowd back using truncheons.

After the protesters dispersed, clashes continued in other parts of the city.

Around 100 people were apprehended and at least six were formally arrested, according to Ewa Westford, a police spokeswoman.

No injuries were reported.

About 7,000 people gathered at a square in the centre of the city for a peaceful protest, with speakers condemning Israel's offensive in Gaza and urging support for the Palestinians.

As they marched towards the arena, they were joined by the masked demonstrators who attacked police with eggs, rocks and firecrackers.

Tight security

About 1,000 police were deployed in Malmo to keep the protesters from entering the arena. Special riot vehicles had been brought in from Denmark.

Henrik Kallen from the Swedish Tennis Federation spoke to Al Jazeera from inside the arena. He said the match had not been disturbed.

In video

Empty stands greet
Israel-Sweden tennis tie

"I can't comment on if it was right or wrong to from a security stand [to ban fans from the match] but what is unfortunate is that some local politicians have used it  for their own agenda, mixing sports and politics and making national politics out of something they should not get into."

Since Israel's three-week war on Gaza ending in January, activists and politicians have called for the game to be stopped.

The municipality of Malmo said its decision that the match be played in an empty arena was taken due to security concerns, without any political motives.

But Ilmar Reepalu, the mayor of Malmo, told the newspaper Sydsvenska Dagbladet  after the war on Gaza that his personal opinion was that the game should not be played at all.

Limited audience

The three-game tie started on Friday with about 300 journalists, sponsors and special guests present in the 4,000-capacity hall.

"It didn't feel like a Davis Cup match, it felt like a challenger match," said Harel Levy, one of the Israeli players.

"It's sad, I think it has affected Sweden more than Israel. Hopefully it will never happen again."

Malmo, which is home to a large number of immigrants, many of them from the Middle East, has been heavily criticised by the International Tennis Federation and Israeli players for its decision to close the tie to the public.

It is the second time that a Davis Cup tie has been held without spectators. The first was in 1975, also in Sweden, when the Swede Bjorn Borg and his team beat Chile, which was ruled at the time by dictator Augusto Pinochet.

 Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
 
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Feedback Number of comments : 3
 
Nick
United States
10/03/2009
Anti-Israel protest turns violent
"It's sad, I think it has affected Sweden more than Israel. Hopefully it will never happen again." (Harel Levy, Israeli player) WHAT A SURPRISE. This coming from an Israeli who's country provided arms to South Africa at the height of Apartheid. While the rest of the world was trying to get South Africa to change its ways. Of course, Israel will never change it ways and will continue to hold human life (as long as its not Israeli) cheap.

JAVIER COLMOS
Afghanistan
10/03/2009
Anti-Israel protest turns violent
It amazes me the intolerance of middle eastern people who migrate to the west. Live and let live. If you want war, go back to the middle east.

Amir
United States
10/03/2009
Protests Against Mosad in Belgium
Mosad in Belgium http://www.radio1.be/programmas/och1/1552266/ http://internetradio.vrt.be/radiospeler/v2_prod/qt.html?qsbrand=11&qsODfile=/media/audio/och1/11_r1_och1_mossad_100309 Apparently the Mosad agents carry weapons on Belgian territory, arrest people on Belgian territory while it has no LEGAL right to do so. We need to give our moral support for further investigations and prosecutions in regards to this infiltration of Belgium by Zionists.

 
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