US EMBASSY FLAG AND GROSVENOR SQUARE; DEMONSTRATORS MARCH INTO SQUARE; POLICE LINE SQUARE; CLASHES; POLICE LINK ARMS IN HYDE PARK; INJURED POLICEMAN (NATURAL SOUND).




Initials GHB/V/MR/EEH



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Background: ANTI-VIETNAM WAR DEMONSTRATORS EXCHANGED BLOWS WITH POLICE OUTSIDE THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN LONDON TODAY (SUNDAY) DURING A PROTEST MARCH MARKING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1954 GENEVA AGREEMENT ON VIETNAM.

THE SCUFFLES CAME AS POLICE TRIED TO CLEAR SEVERAL HUNDRED PROTESTORS WHO HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM A 10,000-STRONG MARCH THAT HAD PASSED PEACEFULLY THROUGH GROSVENOR SQUARE, WHERE THE EMBASSY IS LOCATED.

MORE THAN 1,000 POLICE STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER AROUND THE SQUARE TO PREVENT A REPEAT OF THE RIOTING WHICH OCCURRED DURING A SIMILAR ANTI-VIETNAM WAR DEMONSTRATION LAST MARCH WHEN 45 PROTESTORS AND 117 POLICE WERE INJURED.

FIGHTING BROKE OUT WHEN POLICE MOVED IN TO TACKLE SPLINTER GROUPS WHO HAD BROKEN THROUGH A HEDGE ONTO THE GRASSY SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE EMBASSY. BLOWS WERE EXCHANGED AS LINES OF POLICE FORCED BACK THE DEMONSTRATORS, WHO HURLED TREE BRANCHES AND BROKEN BANNER POLES AT THEM.

THE REST OF THE MARCH MOVED ON TO NEARBY HYDE PARK WHERE MORE FIGHTING BROKE OUT AS DEMONSTRATORS WERE CHASED AWAY BY POLICE. WOODEN NOTICE BOARDS WERE TORN UP AND THROWN AT POLICE AND SEVERAL CAR WINDSCREENS WERE SMASHED. AT NO TIME, HOWEVER, DID THE VIOLENCE REACH THE PEAK OF THE MARCH DEMONSTRATION.

AT NO STAGE DID THE MARCHERS PENETRATE THE EMBASSY POLICE CORDON EXCEPT WHEN ONE WOMAN WAS ALLOWED THROUGH TO PRESENT A PROTEST LETTER.