Amsterdam police smash squatter's barricades

Ten policemen and 25 civilians were injured slightly in clashes Monday after tanks with bulldozer shovels smashed through squatters' barricades in central Amsterdam, a city council spokesman said. Six tanks, backed by police armored cars, riot vans, and 1,100 steel-helmeted police, were ordered into action when the squatters refused to allow city council workmen to clear the barricades blocking several road in the city.

The squatters say the council is not allotting empty houses to families seeking accommodation. An estimated 10,000 squatters live in Amsterdam, and the city council says that more than 50,000 people are officially registered as being in need of accommodation.