英伦广角 2009-04-05 北约峰会场外成战场（在线收听）

As world leaders discussed the conflict in Afghanistan, demonstrators fought the police. The center of Strasbourg is a fortress, but it didn't stop property from being smashed and set alight.

As you can see, several hundred protesters have gathered here on the outskirts of the city of Strasbourg. The demonstration has turned pretty ugly. These protesters are throwing bottles and rocks at the police. The police are returning fire with tear gas and also firing a number of plastic rounds.

The security operation has cost more than a hundred million pounds. Some of the demonstrations have been peaceful. This group of students block the main tramline to the summit to make their points. 

"Maybe it's peaceful here, but we bring a war all over the world. So we bring war to Iraq, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, uh, in African countries, we, so we bring, it's peaceful here, but NATO brings war, exports war all over the world. "

Members of the alliance were kept well away from the pitched battles. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel led a symbolic crossing of the Rhine. They were greeted in France by President Nicolas Sarkozy. Two nations whose histories are entwined in conflict, now united through a 60-year-old alliance. The mission in Afghanistan is losing its way in the face of a determined Taliban insurgency. Europe has promised to stump up a further five thousand troops, but the extra contingent will only be on duty to provide security for the upcoming Afghan elections.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged an additional one-thousand soldiers. He says stability in Afghanistan is vital for European security.

"The Afghan government, in return for NATO's support must step up its efforts on tackling corruption and tackling the drugs trade which not only disrupts our communities in Britain, but also increasingly funds insurgency and terrorism."

Hamid Karzai also came under pressure. Mr. Brown says after he had words, the Afghan leader will now repeal Taliban-style legislation against women. Italy had also threatened to withdraw its female soldiers from the country.

"The Minister of Justice will study the whole law, every item of it very very carefully. If there is anything that is of concern to us, then we will definitely take action and send it back to the Parliament. You will be assured of that, this is something that we are also serious about and we should not allow. "

A new NATO Secretary General, too. The Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen will take up the post later this year. The NATO Alliance has managed to show some unity. But as demonstrators clash with the police, there are still questions about what role NATO will have as it enters its seventh decade. 

Alex Rossi, Sky News, Strasbourg.