Sometimes, when international events happen in the U.S., overseas news sources offer valuable perspective. Here is a sample of what the world is reading about the WTO in Seattle.

AGENCE-FRANCE PRESS (12/1)
Seattle police chief Norm Stamper, said curfews and a state of emergency would remain in force until the four-day World Trade Organization talks end."We have no plans to suspend the state of emergency or to lift the curfew."

HINDUSTAN TIMES, India: "Protests mar WTO meet, emergency declared" (12/1)
In an unprecedented move, a state of emergency was declared in Seattle as thousands of labour, environmental and human rights activists virtually held the city to ransom today. This forced the authorities to delay the inauguration of the four-day WTO ministerial conference.

BBC WORLD SERVICE (12/1)
The protesters represent a wide spectrum of causes - from concerns about the impact of global trade on labour rights and the environment, to the influence of international organisations. They say the free trade ideals espoused by the WTO benefit big business at the cost of workers, the environment and communities.

CHINA DAILY – "Near riot riles WTO trade talks" (12/2)
Thousands of protesters battled police on Tuesday, throwing the start of global trade talks into disarray and prompting officials to declare a civil emergency and call in the national guard…At the posh Westin Hotel, where US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky and her Japanese counterparts were staying, guests were told to go to their rooms for fear demonstrators would storm the building.

THE GUARDIAN (London) – "Clinton PR coup in tatters as world looks on" (12/2)
To Bill Clinton a year ago, it looked like the perfect plan. . .Seattle, the epicentre of the revitalised US economy, was the obvious choice of venue…What Mr Clinton found when he arrived in the city early yesterday morning was a deserted downtown covered by a curfew hastily imposed by the mayor in the aftermath of a day of rioting, and hundreds of delegates furious at being tear-gassed.

BANGKOK BUSINESS – "Chaos in Seattle Disrupts Start of WTO Talks" (12/2)
Demonstrators bent on disrupting WTO talks succeeded beyond their wildest dreams here Tuesday, taking over the city center and forcing the cancellation of the opening ceremony. Mike Moore, the World Trade Organization director general, abandoned attempts to hold an official opening ceremony for the three-day WTO ministerial conference at a downtown theatre as thousands of protesters blocked access to the building. Keynote speaker, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, was among dignitaries unable to leave her hotel and returned to Washington DC without delivering her speech.

THE AUSTRALIAN – "Global message isn’t reaching the masses" (12/2)
When the World Trade Organisation held its inaugural meeting in Singapore in 1996, freshly imported BMW 7-series cars ferried delegates smoothly from hotels to meeting venues. Proceedings ran like clockwork…Yesterday, officials dodged protesters in the streets of Seattle…the momentum against globalisation and free trade is gathering – ironically in developed countries which are enjoying the immediate benefits of better market access.

SOUTH AFRICAN DAILY MAIL AND GUARDIAN – "Greens protests against the WTO" (12/1)
A broad based coalition held protests across South Africa to mark the start of World Trade Organisation talks in Seattle in the United States, which have been disrupted by riots and marked by protests in other major centres across the globe…Amongst other things, protestors are objecting to the apparent lack of attention given to labour and environmental issues at the talks. . . In Seattle anti-trade demonstrators battled with police on Tuesday, throwing the global trade talks into chaos.

SINGAPORE BUSINESS TIMES - "WTO opening cancelled; curfew ordered" (12/1)
The World Trade Organization cancelled its opening ceremony yesterday after Seattle police using pepper gas and rubber bullets were unable to disperse thousands of protesters who blocked access to the event. The gathering at the Paramount Theater in downtown Seattle was delayed for hours, then scrapped by director-general Mike Moore after US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, other speakers and delegates could not get through the crowd.

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