(Update with arrests, injuries, fresh police and protest quotes) By Michael Perry MELBOURNE, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Protests against a summit of the world's financial leaders in Melbourne turned violent on Saturday when activists overturned barricades, pelted police with bottles and smashed a police riot truck. Police locked down several blocks of Australia's second biggest city to stop protesters reaching the meeting of the Group of 20 economic powers, after violent anti-globalisation protests marred a World Economic Forum in Melbourne in 2000. A hard core group of protesters dressed in white overalls and hoods, their faces covered, moved from one barricaded street to to another, violently confronting police. At one stage they overran a barricade, rained police with bottles and smashed a police truck, but minutes later police baton charged the protesters, sending them running. At other barricades protesters confronted mounted police and police with batons as they tried to pull down barriers and reach the G20 venue. Police chants of "Back Off" were answered by protesters yelling "Our Streets". Some protesters threw garbage bins and rubbish at police. Australian Treasurer Peter Costello, who is hosting the G20 meeting, said a hard-core group of protesters had attempted to damage Australia's reputation. "They are trying to trash the reputation of Melbourne and Australia. But Australia is a warm and giving country, Costello told reporters during a break in G20 meetings. "G20 CAN HELP POOR" Across the nearby Yarra River, aid and church groups staged a peaceful G20 protest in parklands, calling for an end to global poverty through debt relief and greater aid spending. The "Fair Trade Market" of tents and stalls and world music performers attracted a largely family crowd. World Vision chief Tim Costello told the "Fair Trade Market" that protesters trying to stop the G20 meeting risk creating further disadvantage for impoverished nations. "They say capitalism is the problem, we don't. The poor would lose if you stop G20," said Costello, brother of Australia's treasurer. "The truth is that part of what my brother and the G20 are on about does lift people out of poverty," he said, but added that G20 economic leaders needed to make aid a priority. Police made two arrests and said more were expected. Several police were injured, one with a suspected broken wrist. But the main body of the protest, which attracted thousands of people, was peaceful, with a carnival-like atmosphere. The diverse group of protesters marched through Melbourne's central business district towards the G20 venue, chanting "Stop G20" and "Troops out of Iraq". At one stage with protesters tensely facing off riot squad police, a group of female clowns brushed police shields with feather dusters and blew bubbles over police. Protesters dressed in pink tutus and called "Melbourne's Radical Cheerleaders" performed cheer dances and waved pom poms in the faces of police. Many shops near the G20 venue had closed for the weekend, with some boarding up front windows. Police guarded buildings housing U.S. stores Nike and Starbucks, potential targets for anti-globalisation activists. The G20 represents 20 industrialised and developing nations, from economic powerhouses the United States and China to developing states Mexico and Indonesia. It meets annually to discuss world economics and trade.
