Demonstrators fought pitched battles with police for a second day in the Swedish city of Gothenburg during protests at the European Union summit.

Shops were looted and buildings damaged some distance away from the meeting, where EU leaders discussed ways of putting expansion plans back on track after Irish voters rejected them.

Anti-globalisation and anti-EU protesters threw fireworks and stones at police, who fought back with clubs.

Some mounted policemen were thrown off their horses.

Police sealed off a shopping mall in the centre of town after an object suspected to be a bomb was found. Demonstrators tried repeatedly to get close to the conference hall where the 15 EU leaders are meeting, and at one stage were reported to be less than a mile away.

Several hundred people were arrested on Thursday after clashes during US President George W Bush's meeting with EU leaders.

Irish "no"
The Irish rejection of the Nice Treaty has shattered Sweden's hopes that it might be able to end its EU presidency next month by announcing an entry date for new members.

The treaty must be approved by the 15 member-states before the EU can expand to include a dozen applicant countries from eastern Europe.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern asked EU leaders to grant his country "an extended period of reflection" after last week's "no" vote.

"I want to make it absolutely clear that, in my view, the 'no' vote should not be interpreted as a vote against enlargement," Mr Ahern told his EU colleagues at the start of the summit.

The development of the EU's own military role, the shaky situation in Macedonia and the Middle East crisis were also expected to be discussed.
Source bbc.com 14 June 2001

Pictured below: rioters fought pitched battles with police in the normally quiet Swedish city.