SWEDEN: Swedish police have been criticised for their handling of the violence during the EU summit in Gothenburg in June 2001.
In the final report by the government-appointed committee investigating the violence, "serious deficiencies" have been revealed in the police operation. The report concludes that Swedish police were ill prepared.
During the EU summit demonstrators and police clashed in what the Swedish daily, Dagens Nyheter, described as "an orgy of vandalism and brutality lasting several days". As the violence escalated and police were overwhelmed, they opened fire with live ammunition, wounding one demonstrator.
Up to 100 people were injured during the riots, causing damage estimated at more than $4 million. Last summer four Swedish policemen were charged with misconduct for using unnecessary force during the summit.
Several anti-globalisation activists were fined or given six-month jail sentences and the debate surrounding events in Gothenburg has not died down.
The 800-page report criticises the police, saying bad leadership, bad planning and bad training played a large role in what happened. It also highlighted basic structural problems in the Swedish police force, including differences of opinion and lack of proper equipment. One area of concern was the fact that the police lacked an effective telecommunications system.
However, critics of the report have questioned the role and responsibilities of the demonstration's organisers. One newspaper, Sydsvenska Dagbladet, said it was unfair to just blame the police.
"It cannot be ruled out that the course of events might have been different if the police had acted in a different manner. But this doesn't mean that the police caused the disorder," the paper said.
One of the final recommendations made by the committee, led by former prime minister Mr Ingvar Carlsson, is to introduce a ban on disguises and masks for those taking part in demonstrations. Many of the main troublemakers among the demonstrators in Gothenburg wore black masks to cover their faces. This made police identification difficult.
While most welcome a general ban on masks, some exceptions are being urged for those threatened by neo-Nazis or citizens of former dictatorships.
As for the Swedish police, the latest criticism is nothing new. It has been widely attacked for several recent cases and its credibility suffered over its handling of the murder of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986.