Demonstrators have been battling police in renewed violence in Gothenburg, Sweden as EU leaders meet for a summit.

At least three shooting victims have been admitted to hospital, according to a hospital spokeswoman, speaking to news agency AP. Police could not be reached for immediate confirmation.

Reuters reported that heavily outnumbered police were forced to retreat before a crowd of roughly 1,500 protesters near the city's university. The severity of the demonstrations forced the cancellation of a planned dinner for EU leaders. Police decided the dinner, originally to be held at the elegant Tragar'n restaurant in the city's Botanical Gardens, would instead be held in the conference centre, which is guarded by hundreds of police.

Swedish radio warned people to stay away from the city centre due to the violence on a day when more than 600 people were detained during 12 hours of rioting. The BBC's James Rogers in Gothenburg said police had anticipated violence during the two-day EU summit, but not to this extent.

Four delegations attending the summit were also asked to change hotels after police said they could no longer guarantee their safety from protesters, a spokesman for the Finnish delegation told AFP.

Anti-globalisation and anti-EU demonstrators have been fighting pitched battles with police for two days. Shops were looted and buildings damaged some distance away from the meeting, where EU leaders discussed ways of putting expansion plans back on track after Irish voters rejected them.

The protesters, many wearing face masks, threw fireworks and stones at police, who fought back with clubs. Others were seen shattering shop windows, including a McDonald's restaurant and a bank, and burning cafe furniture along streets littered with debris. Source: bbc.com 14 June 2001, 20:29 GMT.