28 to appear at special Clover Hill court sitting

At least 28 people have been arrested and brought to the Clover Hill detention centre where they will appear before a special court sitting tonight.

200 protesters are now outside the GPO where they are being monitored by scores of garda units. The Riot squad have pulled back as have the water cannons which were earlier used to disperse the crowds outside the Phoenix Park.

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern said he was "disappointed" with tonight's confrontation and said he was happy with the way in which the protests were handled by the Garda.

The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell is also being "kept briefed" on the situation in Dublin , a Government spokesperson confirmed tonight.

"I am disappointed that the disturbances happened," the Taoiseach said. "I am happy with the way the Garda Siochana have handled the situation."

The Government spokesperson said that while the Army remain on a high state of alert it has not been deployed.

The Garda say it is in control of the situation and is monitoring a group of protestors who have continued to fragment as they have moved close to the city centre.

There has been no property damage reported at the time of writing.

Hundreds of gardai stationed at the junctions leading from the city centre to the  Phoenix Park have prevented the bloc of 800 protesters moving through residential areas.

The city today saw its biggest security operation for more than 20, with 5,000 gardaí (out of a total force of less than 12,000) on duty and 2,500 members of the Defence Forces on standby.

Anti-capitalist protesters who had planned a march to Farmleigh House  this evening have called off the event and blamed gardaí for effectively banning the rally.

Dublin Grassroots Network said the closure of park as part of an extensive security operation for the visit of EU leaders to the city, amounted to "the first time a march has been banned in Ireland since the Dublin Lockout in 1913

The protesters had planned a march to Farmleigh House  this evening were forced to call the event off last night and blamed gardaí for effectively banning the rally.