LANDQUART, Switzerland Police on Saturday intercepted nearly 300 protestors heading for the Swiss resort of Davos, where protests had been banned while world political and business leaders hold their annual summit.

Officers stopped five buses carrying about 250 protestors near the town of Landquart, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Davos, an AFP journalist reported.

At Chiasso, on the Swiss-Italian border meanwhile, officers saw off a group of 40 would-be protestors after an overnight standoff.

Police intercepted the buses carrying demonstrators about five kilometers (three miles) outside Landquart at around midday.

The group, which had traveled from Zurich, included a French communist member of the European Parliament, Roseline Vachetta, and Trades Union activists from France and Switzerland.

The police officer in charge refused to negotiate with the protestors. "We are stopping everybody," he said.

Police had said they had word of an illegal rally planned for around 12:30 p.m. Saturday near the Davos conference venue.

A group of outraged young demonstrators chanted slogans as riot police lined up behind metal barriers and barbed wire which barred their way. An armored police vehicle was also standing by.

"This is what democracy is like!", said one protestor pointing to the police barricades.

The demonstrators eventually quit the scene in a chaotic procession at 1:00 p.m.

Another group of protesters who arrived by train were reportedly stranded in Landquart, as rail access to the resort had been suspended.

At Chiasso, officials reopened the border at 1:00 p.m. after an overnight standoff with about 40 protestors ended with the group giving up their attempts to cross into Switzerland.

Local police and border guards were on alert for any fresh groups of demonstrators.

Protests have been banned in davos for this year's forum.

There were violent demonstrations at last year's event.