World lenders scale back summit

Washington fears a repeat of Genoa

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are to cut short next month's annual meetings in Washington because of expected protests by thousands of anti-globalisation activists.

Talks will now be limited to essential business over the weekend of 29-30 September, rather than running on to 4 October.

We feel that there is going to be some loss. This is an unfortunate setback

World Bank spokesman Merrell Tuck

The two organisations said they shared the authorities' concern that "the least possible disruption" should be caused to residents of the US capital.

City authorities fear that up to 40,000 demonstrators will descend on the city for the meetings, which follow massive unrest at July's G8 summit of leading industrialised nations in Genoa.

Washington's mayor warned President Bush earlier this week that security at the September talks could not be guaranteed unless the city received federal help in paying estimated security costs of $50m.

They are using the prospect of violence to avoid bad publicity

Mobilization for Global Justice

"The protests and demonstrations... will be of an intensity, scope and magnitude that we have never seen in this city," Mayor Anthony Williams said in a letter.

"The district is not in a position to ensure the safety of citizens... or to prevent the massive potential property damage."

But protesters say planned rallies will proceed no matter what the length of the summit, which brings together government officials and bankers from around the world.

"Whether they will be meeting for two days or longer, this is our opportunity to focus the public's mind on these problems," a Mobilization for Global Justice spokesman said.

"They are using the prospect of violence to avoid bad publicity."

Spiralling violence

Washington's police are planning to draft in thousands of extra officers from New York and other nearby states for the summit.

At last year's meetings they made more than 600 arrests.

Genoa was the most violent summit yet

Recently global summits have become increasingly violent.

Security concerns were heightened after a protester was shot dead by police last month in Genoa.

But even before that the World Bank had staged a summit online that had been due to be held in Barcelona because of fears of violence.

It and the IMF are not the only ones concerned about anti-globalisation protests.

Following Genoa, the Italian Government is considering moving the World Food summit from Rome.

And next year's G8 summit hosts, Canada, have decided to stage the meeting in a remote town in the Rocky Mountains.