(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Police forcibly removed Occupy Melbourne protesters from the city Square this morning.
According to police officials, most of the Australian demonstrators, inspired by the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protesters in the US, were released without charge.
Over 20 protesters received minor injuries, while one was reportedly hospitalized.
Police broke down the campsite and fenced off the square, which is at the center of Melbourne's business district, refusing to allow more protesters to join the group.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said that the area is to remain fenced off for 48 hours while it is being cleared up.
Local media say city officials ordered the police to clear the area because of British Queen Elizabeth's visit to Australia which began on Thursday.
The OWS movement emerged on September 17, when about 150 people set up tents in New York's Zuccotti Park to protest 'corporate greed,' top-level corruption and inequalities in the country.
Since then, the protests have spread to dozens of cities across the US and inspired many rallies in European countries such as Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, Ireland, and Portugal.
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