Protest greets world financial leaders

[Judi Lynn]

Protest greets world financial leaders
Sat 24 April, 2004 21:50

By Laura MacInnis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thousands of demonstrators banged pots and pans, blew whistles and beat drums in a Latin American-style protest of World Bank and IMF policies in poor countries.

Some on Saturday carried signs reading "people over profits" and "debt relief now" to underscore their message to international lenders holding their spring meetings.

The boisterous rally modelled after "cacerolazo" pot-banging protests common in South America led protesters to a park across the street from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund headquarters in downtown Washington.

"We need to have people in the street to show that we're paying attention to what the IMF and World Bank are doing," said protester Tito Bourdon, 23, of Virginia.
(snip/...)

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=498916§ion=news