By JORGE E. BANALES
WASHINGTON, April 16 (UPI) -- Most delegates attending the International Monetary Fund meeting Sunday in Washington have entered the IMF building despite attempts by protesters to block their way, officials said.
Thousands of protesters were gathered outside the IMF building downtown at 8:15 a.m., forming human chains at police barricades and blocking intersections outside a clear zone established by police around the building. About 200 protesters were packed in, dancing and chanting at each intersection. Police worried that should the same number appear on Monday, traffic would be impacted.
Demonstrators formed human chains in front of barricades, trying to keep officials from getting through.
Numerous handwritten and printed signs are sprinkled throughout the crowd, urging "Dump the debt!", "Economic justice now!", "Stop the war against the poor!", "Don't throw money at the problems!", "Time for global change!" and "Cancel the debt!"
A group of Native Americans formed a circle, chanting and singing.
Legal observers from the National Lawyers Guild wearing bright green baseball hats have been approached the barricades and writing down the names and badge numbers of police officers. Asked why, they said they were gathering the information as part of a record of the protest.
Earlier, one official was surrounded by protesters before he was able to enter. The official pushed against the chain while one of the protest leaders instructed activists not to touch him but rather to passively block his way.
Officials said the annual spring meeting of the international organization would proceed as planned.
"Almost all the delegates are in right now, so the meetings are taking place," said Charles Ramsey, Washington police chief, on NBC television news Sunday morning at 6:35 a.m.
"It looks pretty much like that," Conny Lotze, spokeswoman for the IMF, told United Press International. "I've seen a lot of delegations arrive," she said. "Everybody was told to arrive fairly early, between 5 and 6 (a.m.)."
Among the crowds of protesters were various colorful signs, banners and puppets.
One puppet was of a pink pig labeled "World Bank." Another was a makeshift "loan machine." On one side, protesters fed puppets labeled with country names and on the other, they removed puppets resembling cadavers.
Copyright 2000 by United Press International. All rights reserved.:
