Police Clash With Anti-Putin Protesters
Polish have police clashed with about 50 people protesting against Russian President Vladimir Putin, ahead of his visit to Krakow for Holocaust commemorations.
Protesters denounced Putin's policy in Chechnya, threw firecrackers and vandalised barriers around a restaurant in the southern town where the president had been expected to dine with his Polish counterpart, police officer Marcin Kotulski said on Wednesday.
"The protesters started to be aggressive and we had to intervene," Kotulski told Reuters, adding that 10 people had been detained.
Putin was nowhere near the restaurant after a change of plans. The Russian leader had been expected to arrive on Wednesday but organisers said he would now likely fly into Krakow on Thursday for the 60th anniversary of the Red Army's liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, 70 km (40 miles) away.
The protesters, a local pro-Chechen group and members of Amnesty International, carried signs saying "Stop genocide" and "Down with Russian terrorism" and chanted "Holocaust in the Caucasus, banquet in Krakow", the PAP news agency said.
Putin is among about 40 heads of state due to attend the Auschwitz commemorations. U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney is also expected.
"It's time to remind the world that in Chechnya there is enormous suffering," said Jacek Bialas from Amnesty International.
Russia has been fighting separatist rebels in the break-away Caucasus republic for a decade.