Violence in Rome as ‘Wall Street’ protests spread

The Occupy Wall Street movement, which started in New York, has sparked similar demonstrations cities across the globe.

In Rome, 200,000 protesters took to the streets, where shop windows were smashed and cars set on fire as groups of anarchists belonging to the famed 'Black Bloc' movement took over and clashed with police.

In London, supporters of the so-called Occupy London Stock Exchange group held a rally outside St Paul's Cathedral.

Part of a "global movement for real democracy" to highlight social and economic injustice , protesters marched in the heart of the capital's financial centre.

Police cordoned off Paternoster Square, where the Stock Exchange is located, as several hundred activists tried to march in from the cathedral.

A notice has been put up stating that the square is private property and access would be restricted.

Police sources said a High Court injunction had been taken out to prevent members of the public from accessing the square.

A number of campaign organisations, including direct action group UK Uncut, have said they support the Occupy London Stock Exchange protests.

The so-called OccupyLSX group's Facebook page on the protest has more than 13,000 followers, with more than 5,000 confirmed attendees.

Laura Taylor, a supporter of the group, said: "Why are we paying for a crisis the banks caused?

"More than a million people have lost their jobs and tens of thousands of homes have been repossessed, while small businesses are struggling to survive.

"Yet bankers continue to make billions in profit and pay themselves enormous bonuses, even after we bailed them out with £850bn."

Another supporter, Kai Wargalla, said: "We want to stand with the 99% - the overwhelming majority who value people over profit.

"We want to make our voices heard against greed, corruption and for a democratic, just society.

"We stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street , protesters in Spain, Greece and the Middle East who started this movement.

"They have inspired people all over the world to step forward and make their voices heard."

OccupyLSX issued a statement that said: "The words corporate greed ring through the speeches and banners of protests across the globe.

"After huge bailouts and in the face of unemployment, privatisation and austerity, we still see profits for the rich on the increase."

In Europe, the movement is joining up with anti-austerity protests that have raged for months across the continent.

In Frankfurt, some 5,000 people took to the streets to protest in front of the European Central Bank.

Hundreds have marched through the Bosnian city of Sarajevo carrying pictures of Che Guevara and old communist flags that read "Death to capitalism, freedom to the people".

Several thousands have joined demos in Rome a day after Premier Silvio Berlusconi survived a confidence vote.

Protesters smashed shop windows and torched a car as the demonstrations in the Italian capital turned violent.

Hundreds of people also joined peaceful protests in Sydney, Tokyo, Manila, Hong Kong and Seoul.