Protests Erupt Near UN Building in Geneva Ahead of G7 Summit

Clashes broke out between protesters and police near the United Nations building in Geneva on Sunday on the eve of the G7 summit in the nearby French resort town of Evian.

Demonstrators threw bottles, stones and firecrackers at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.

Witnesses cited by the AFP and Reuters news agency said protesters targeted the offices of the UN's telecommunication building and threw flares as police tried to clear them from the site.

Thousands of security personnel were deployed in Geneva, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of Evian, ahead of the protest organized by an anti-G7 coalition.

Some 20,000 people gathered for a march that began peacefully in the early afternoon before violence broke out. Some protesters tore down the plywood panels fitted to protect shopfronts and smashed windows, pelted projectiles at police, and set a Tesla on fire.

The demonstration was taking place in Geneva because France declined to issue permits for protests near the G7 summit venue, the Geneva city government said.

Protests are common at G7 gatherings, with demonstrators at the summits often voicing anger over capitalism, globalization, inequality and other issues.

Leaders from the Group of Seven wealthy nations, including US President Donald Trump, are set to gather in Evian on Monday for a three-day meeting.

The agenda is expected to be dominated by wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.