By Petra Cermakova and Katka Svobodova
Culled from the Prague Post

Prague residents, whose peaceful Velvet Revolution toppled a communist
regime, blasted anti-globalization foes yesterday for "mob violence" that
damaged private property across the capital and injured dozens of police
officers and demonstrators.
"This wasn't even a protest," said a clerk at C&A, a clothing store on
Wenceslas Squre.  "What happened here was nothing but vandalism."
Demonstrators protesting the policies of the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund smashed shop windows around Prague, including
McDonald's, KFC and Dunkin' Donuts outlets on Wenceslas Square.  They also
tossed Molotov cocktails and cobblestones at police barracades.  The Health
Ministry said yesterday (Wednesday) tha 41 police officers and 52 protesters
had been treated for injuries.
Property damage estimates were still not complete but are expected to run
into the millions of crowns.
But the reserved citizens of the Czech capital, most of whom are happy to be
moving westward after 50 years of communism, could only shake their heads at
the violence.
Jan Lexa, owner of car repair shop on Nezamyslova street near yesterday's
most intense battle scene--under the Nusle bridge next to the Congress
Center, the site of the financial summit--was surprised by people's
reaction.

"People are requesting that songs be played on the radio for the police
officers," said Lexa, 30.  "This is the first time the Czechs aren't
complaining about the police, but glorifying them.  But I think the police
should have done more to prevent the violence."




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