Anti-monarchy demo on Charles visit (From Enfield Independent)

Anti-monarchy demo on Charles visit

4:34am Wednesday 11th November 2009

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The Prince of Wales's Canadian tour has been marred by scenes of violence when anti-monarchy protesters clashed with riot police.

An extreme group of Quebec nationalists staged a sit-in street protest on Tuesday night after fighting broke out with officers sent to clear them away.

The violence, which left one man bleeding from the head and another dragged from the crowd and arrested, was the worst overseas royal protest in many years.

More than 100 protesters had staged their demonstration outside the regimental hall of The Black Watch of Canada in Montreal where Charles was due to present new regimental colours.

The prince and the Duchess of Cornwall's arrival was delayed by 40 minutes until the police had cleared the streets - something the prince later jokingly referred to as "a little local disturbance".

The province of Quebec with its French heritage is known for its anti-monarchist views, with many people wanting an end to the Queen as Canada's head of state.

Julien Gaudeau, a spokesman for the militant nationalist group Reseau de Resistance du Quebec which organised the protest, said: "The prince is important as a symbol of power given by the blood. We don't want this kind of symbol in Quebec, more than 80% of the population in Quebec is opposed to the monarchy."

Waving the provincial flag of Quebec and anti-royal placards the protesters chanted "majesty go home". Some of the group wore balaclavas or hid their faces behind scarves and before the police arrived they threw eggs at soldiers leaving their regimental hall.

A Canadian riot unit was called in but the confrontation soon escalated into ugly scuffles with the demonstrators being hit by the officer's shields and batons.

After the sit-down protest the group were eventually pushed down a side road and the prince and duchess were able to arrive by the front entrance.

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