Azeri opposition rally thwarted

One diplomat said the events had discredited the president

Police in Azerbaijan have prevented hundreds of opposition activists from staging an unauthorised rally in the country's capital, Baku.

Witnesses said police used truncheons to stop people reaching the main square where the demonstration had been due to take place.

Forty-five protesters were arrested, police said, quoted by Itar-Tass.

The government had refused to permit the rally, saying it was too close to the opening of a major oil pipeline.

Azerbaijan is due to stage the ceremony for the $4bn Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline on Wednesday. Several heads of state are expected to attend.

"Those who think they can violate public order on the eve of the celebration are mistaken," said Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov, quoted by AFP news agency.

'Crude violence'

But the US embassy and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe voiced concern over the decision to ban the rally.

And Norwegian ambassador Steinar Gil condemned what he described as "crude violence", after apparently seeing one person injured

"Today's events discredit the president," he said. "Similar violence is not acceptable in a democratic society. The people who were beaten posed no threat."

Correspondents say tensions between the government and opposition have increased since presidential elections in 2003 which the opposition allege were marred by fraud.

Parliamentary elections are due in November.