Thousands of left-wing demonstrators gathered to protest against an
extreme right-wing rally have clashed with police in the German city of
Cologne.
Police said about 3,000 protesters threw stones at officers, while some tried to steal their weapons.
Violence erupted after the protesters tried to halt an "anti-Islamification" rally, which police eventually banned.
The extreme-right Pro-Koeln group had sought to protest against plans to build one of Europe's biggest mosques.
The police said the decision to ban the rally was a matter of public safety.
'Immigrant invasion'
Some 3,000 police had been drafted in and part of the old city was sealed off as authorities appealed for peaceful protests against a two-day congress called by the Pro-Koeln (Pro-Cologne) group.
