G20 protesters smash windows and clash with police

By William Maclean and Kate Holton

LONDON (Reuters) - Demonstrators clashed with riot police and smashed bank windows in London's financial district on Wednesday in protest against a system they said had robbed the poor to benefit the rich.

Hundreds of protesters converged on a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland, shattering windows. Rescued by the government in October, RBS has become a lightning rod for public anger over banker excess blamed for the crisis.

The protests were timed to coincide with a G20 meeting of the world's leading and emerging economies.

Mounted police and officers in riot gear surrounded the building to keep the crowds back. Protesters hurled paint bombs and bottles, chanting: "These streets, our streets! These banks, our banks!"

Police said a number of officers had been injured, adding in a statement: "There have been a number of missiles thrown at officers and a number of surges at the police cordons, and increasing levels of violence towards police."

Earlier protesters marched behind models of the "four horsemen of the apocalypse" representing financial crimes, war, climate change and homelessness.

Some threw eggs at police and some chanted "build a bonfire, put the bankers on the top." Others shouted "jump" and "shame on you" at financial sector workers watching the march from office block windows.

"We have been robbed," said Vinzcente Oliver, 22, from northern England, protesting about how low interest rates have hit savers and pensioners. "I am coming to support the older people who have been working all these years. If we did any stealing we would go to jail."