COLOGNE, Germany More than 20,000 people marched through the western German city of Cologne Saturday in protest at a controversial court decision to allow neo-Nazis to demonstrate here, AFP reported.
One police officer was slightly hurt after isolated scuffles broke out between left-wing demonstrators and police, who were trying to keep the two marches apart.
Leftists threw bottles and stones at police officers who responded with baton charges, arresting several people, police officials said.
At the start of the protest march, Tina Walter, one of the leading demonstrators, told the crowd that "Fascism is not an opinion but a crime." The anti-extremist protest was called for by a citizens' movement named "Cologne Stands in the Way"; other protestors included anti-fascist groups, party activist and church leaders.
The extreme right-wing demonstration was scheduled to take place in downtown Cologne between 12:00 p.m. and 15:00 p.m. (1100 and 1400 GMT), and had been expected to include up to 800 protestors, police said.
But in the end only around 120 neo-Nazi marchers showed up for the event.
A court in Cologne allowed the extremists to gather after police banned it on Wednesday, pointing out that its leading organizer has been charged with assault and battery, and with disturbing public order.
Germany in a human right gesture said is considering a ban on the country's neo-Nazi Party.
But according to informed sources the act comes after some attacks by Nazis to a number of synagogues in the country. Observers believe that officials of the country are trying to stop such attacks by banning the party.