The official demonstration against the World Economic Forum took place this Saturday in Basel and brought together some 2,000 protesters, as well as a significant police presence. Local authorities breathed a sigh of relief that no serious damage was caused. In Davos itself, some 80 demonstrators made a ’protest dance’ and marched from the train station to the downtown of the mountain resort. Police in the canton of Grison say that the events took place in a relaxed atmosphere. Protesters were kept clear from the center were the WEF congress was taking place, but demonstrators nevertheless succeeded in throwing a couple of snow balls in the building’s direction. In Zurich two explosions caused over 150,000 francs in damages. Officials claim that members of the ’Black Block’ had come from Zurich and Bern, but only managed to smash the window of a McDonald’s restaurant and toss some paint on a UBS bank building. About a dozen ruffians were arrested and released shortly afterwards.

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