Demonstrators have marched to the police station in the French town of Le Havre, to protest arrests made by security forces in recent days, ahead of the G8 Summit. Thousands of protesters took to local streets on Saturday, and several were later detained for smashing windows.

Anti-G8 activits hold globes reading, "Hello G20? This is the rest of the world" as they take part in a demonstration in Le Havre, northwestern France.

It was the first anti-G8 rally staged ahead of the international gathering, which begins later Thursday, in the nearby resort of Deauville. Those marching on Wednesday shouted at law enforcement officers to free their colleagues, who have been held since the weekend.

The host site has been all but blocked off to the general public. All G8 meetings since the disastrous 2001 conference in Italy, when a demonstrator was shot and killed by police, have been held in remote areas that are easily sealed off.