Swiss police press charges against anti-Davos protesters

Jan. 22, 2012 Reuters

ZURICH - Swiss police will charge more than 100 demonstrators
with breaching the peace after they rallied in Bern Saturday to protest
against the World Economic Forum that holds its annual meeting in Davos
this week.

The protesters, some wearing masks, began an unauthorized demonstration
but were stopped by police in Bern, 270 km (170 miles) west of the Davos
ski resort, where the global elite will gather for the forum which opens
Wednesday.

Some protesters threw fire crackers and missiles at police but caused no
material damage, police said in a statement.

Swiss police Wednesday arrested two men suspected of throwing red paint
and scrawling "Smash WEF" in black graffiti on the walls of the Swiss
National Bank in Zurich.

Anger against income inequality and the perceived greed of the rich and
powerful has fed the Occupy Wall Street Movement that spurned copy-cat
protests in cities in the United States and elsewhere, including Zurich.

Occupy protesters are building an igloo camp in Davos, but few
demonstrations are likely at the ski resort given stringent security
measures, including exclusion zones around the main congress center and
air patrols by armed fighter jets.

(Reporting by Silke Koltrowitz; Editing by Sophie Hares)