
I am still inside the police containment cordon at Canning Street. The samba band have stopped playing, the black bloc are having a rest. They are nearly outnumbered by a massive press corps waiting patiently to be questioned and let go. Surreally people are also calling me about the situation post the Sherpa meeting. The Germans are blocking an aid deal at the G8 and some mainstream NGOs are worried that their US counterparts are getting ready to hail any old deal.
I am presently, simultaneously, discussing the fine points of aid policy on the phone with NGOs, while conversing with European anrchists about the demerits of the corporate media, which they believe are many.
Update: The police containment tactics seem to be working. I am now free. A group from the SSP was outraged on our behalf, because they saw riot shields deployed. But the shields never came within real sight of the crowd I was with. About 400 protesters are still trapped, along with a cycle courier who was delivering to the right place at the wrong time. As there is trouble elsewhere, it may be a long time before people are released. I didnt see anybody injured.1500hrs
>>Filed from my P910i