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Thousands of protestors chanting
"Get out, Bush!" jammed the streets of Mar del Plata, Argentina, on Friday. |
Protestors swarm streets of Argentine resort
Thousands of protesters chanting "Get out Bush!" swarmed
the streets of this Argentine resort on Friday.
Before dawn, thousands greeted a train bringing the last group of demonstrators
from Buenos Aires, including Bolivian presidential hopeful Evo Morales and soccer
great Diego Maradona, who donned a T-shirt accusing President Bush of war crimes.
Chanting "Fascist Bush! You are the terrorist!" the protesters hung
from the engine and moved up the sides of the train, trying to shake hands with
those inside.
Later, they took to the streets, heading toward a stadium where Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez made a speech before joining the Summit of the Americas.
Chavez arrived early Friday, saying he was "inspired" by the protesters,
who also oppose the U.S.-led negotiations to form a Free Trade Area of the Americas
stretching from Alaska to Argentina.
One marcher, Canadian steelworker Dennis Matteau, said free trade must be stopped.
"We have NAFTA, so we know about free trade deals," he said. "They
are not good for workers."
The march was mostly peaceful, although some self-proclaimed anarchists spray-painted
slogans on a bank. Most businesses along the route had closed, except for a
fruit stand protected by a wall of wooden crates.
"So far, I've only lost four bananas," owner Blas Zanghi said.
Shuttling between luxury hotels, Bush met with Argentine President Nestor Kirchner
as well as Central American and Andean leaders Friday before joining the 34-nation
summit.
Leaders attending the two-day summit agreed ahead of time to focus on creating
jobs and reducing poverty.
In recent days, however, attention has shifted to the free trade issue and
sparring between the United States and Chavez, a leftist whose government has
used his country's vast oil wealth on social programs for the poor.