MOSCOW, May 28: Russian police used truncheons to break up a demonstration here by a few dozen anti- globalization demonstrators, estimated at around 70 people, lay down on central Pushkin square holding hands and were beaten by police trying to remove them.

The demonstration was called on Monday by anti- globalization activists to mark a Russia-European Union summit but was later banned by the Moscow authorities. Organizers said the ban was announced too late for them to cancel the rally.

The activists were also protesting against Russia’s application to join the World Trade Organisation, which they said could turn the country into a “capitalist testing ground.”—AFP