Copenhagen, Dec 16 (DPA) A large contingent of Danish Police Wednesday used pepper spray and batons to prevent protesters from storming the venue of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
At least 250 arrests were reported. Protesters were taken to temporary holding cells.

TV footage showed a few protesters and a police officer rinsing their eyes with bottles of water, possibly to remove traces of the spray.

A photographer was reported to have been hit by a bottle in the head, but there were no other immediate reports of injuries.

Denmark introduced special legislation prior to the UN summit allowing police to hold suspects without charge for up to 12 hours.

Police declared the protest over at noon (1100 GMT), making it illegal for the demonstrations to continue.

After the police order, a standoff ensued before protesters headed off for central Copenhagen. Some protesters were spotted collecting litter left behind by other members of the protest.

Several thousand protesters joined the rally organised by the umbrella group Climate Justice Action, including protesters on bikes dressed as Santas. Others chanted slogans like “Reclaim Power”.

The protesters had hoped to join delegates and environmentalists accredited to the conference for a “people’s assembly”.

Security at the Bella Centre was heightened and a crush of people forced authorities to temporarily close the metro station serving the venue for the third day in a row Wednesday.

The UN organisers also decided to reduce the number of observers and environmentalists who have taken part in events on the sidelines of the conference, which opened Dec 7, generating complaints.

“I have to give priority to governments,” UN climate chief Yvo de Boer earlier told non-governmental organisations, saying there was also need to consider security, as some organisations inside the centre had stated they aimed to join the protesters outside.

Shortly before noon, police stormed a van where organisers of the protest used a megaphone to issue instructions to groups of protesters who tried to force their way past police lines.

A handful of protesters crossed a stream near the centre using a provisional bridge of inflatable mattresses, but were arrested by police waiting on the shoreline.

Inside the well-guarded Bella Centre, negotiators from nearly 200 countries sought to overcome deadlock.

About 50 protesters were earlier arrested near a shopping centre, while others were arrested at a train station used as an assembly point.

Several vehicles were also stopped and searched.

Police in anti-riot gear erected concrete barriers around the conference venue after activists said they would attempt to disrupt proceedings.

Danish police apprehended more than 1,200 people during protests that took place over the weekend.

With just a few days left before world leaders are due to seal an agreement, the chairwoman of the conference, Connie Hedegaard, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, have appealed for compromise amid concerns that the talks may be heading for failure.