ROSTOCK (Germany), June 2: More than 140 police were injured in violent clashes with Molotov cocktail-throwing protestors here on Saturday at a demonstration ahead of next week’s G8 summit.

Riots broke out as tens of thousands of people marched through this northeastern German port, 25 kilometres from the Baltic resort of Heiligendamm, where the leaders of the world's richest nations will begin a three-day meeting on Wednesday.

Several hundred demonstrators from a group of about 2,000 wearing black masks and hoods hurled Molotov cocktails, stones and bottles at police and several cars were set on fire or overturned.

Police used water cannons in an attempt to disperse the troublemakers, who were believed to be from a far-left group.

Some 25 police had serious injuries, a spokeswoman said, while 17 protesters had been arrested. A total of 146 officers were hurt, according to the spokeswoman.

It remained unclear how many protesters were injured.

The violence only involved a small percentage of the 20,000 people that took part in the march, according to police figures. The organisers of the march -- a collection of anti-globalisation and anti-poverty groups – said 80,000 people had taken part.

Werner Ratz of the ATTAC anti-globalisation organisation said clashes began when the group of violent protesters threw rocks at a police vehicle with an officer inside.

Police then sent in two anti-riot squads to rescue the officer, which led to clashes, he said.

—AFP