BARCELONA, March 17: A march of hundreds of thousands of anti- globalists ended in street battles on Saturday when around 1,000 violent demonstrators clashed with police here, news reports said.

The march followed a European Union summit which ended earlier in the day.

Rioters smashed bank windows, demolished bank computers, hurled petrol bombs at government buildings, overturned a car and set a rubbish container on fire. They stoned police who charged wielding batons and firing rubber bullets. Around 40 people were detained and 20 injured, including seven police and two journalists.

A large part of the central Rambla avenue was cut off. A first league Spanish football game between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona was interrupted for six minutes when two demonstrators chained themselves to goal posts.

The march started peacefully as demonstrators displayed banners reading “Against the Europe of capital and war — another world is possible”.

Crowds applauded music lorries and “lobby busters” as colourful groups championed the most varied causes ranging from Palestine to opposing a Spanish water plan.

The organizers had set up their own security services to prevent violent incidents. Police had waged pitched street battles against rioters the previous day, detaining 29 people.—dpa