New York Police forcibly evict Occupy Wall Street Protesters

A police officer appears to beat an Occupy Wall Street protester after the clear-out of Zuccotti Park. Photograph: John Minchillo/AP

 NEW YORK - The New York police have cleared protesters out of Zuccotti park two months after they pitched their tents to demonstrate against the financial banks.


Following a raid in the early hours over 200 people were arrested. At about 1.00 (06.00 GMT) police arrived to order the protesters out and began a clear out of tents and personal belongings.


The Occupy movement was inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings and economic protest camps in Spain. It is made up of thousands of young people, celebrities and politicians and it is calling for a more equal distribution of the world's wealth and a fairer response to the global economic crisis.

Organisers say most of the country's money is held by the richest 1% of the population and that they represent the other 99%.

The Occupy Wall Street, New York camp was set up in September to protest against economic inequality and capitalism. It inspired similar demonstrations all over the US, in the UK, Canada and in Australia.



A similar eviction is expected to take place in London over the next couple of weeks to clear protesters from the land around St. Paul's.


A map of where the Occupy protests are taking place around the world, BBC