By Natasha Bita, Florence November 07, 2002

THOUSANDS of military police poured into Florence yesterday as shopkeepers braced for riots at an anti-globalisation conference starting today in Italy's city of Renaissance art.

Fearing a repeat of the violence and vandalism that left a protester dead and a $100 million damage bill at last year's G-8 summit in Genoa, the Government has ordered 6000 police and secret service agents to guard the city.

"Everything is ready but the risk remains," Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu said after a security briefing in Florence yesterday. "I think we should remain on high alert."

Italy has set up temporary border checks with France and Austria, turning away a van load of French youths armed with knives, 200kg of nuts and bolts and axes.

Dozens of carabiniere will be stationed atop buildings in the main squares to keep an eye on the crowds, and police will patrol monuments, museums and supermarkets during the five-day summit.

Florence airport will be closed to all private aircraft until Sunday – excepting that of Prince Charles, who arrived on Monday for a Tuscan holiday and a personal tour of the Uffizi Gallery.

Despite the security crackdown, businesses took no chances yesterday as 18,000 protesters arrived to attend the Europe Social Forum's talk-fest on topics ranging from world hunger, genetically modified food, racism and multinational capitalism.

McDonald's closed its fast-food outlets yesterday, taking down its trademark golden-arch signs, removing shop fittings and boarding over windows.

Scaffolding kept the public at bay from a copy of Michelangelo's statue of David, although other priceless open-air statues remained unshielded yesterday.

Along the exclusive shopping strip of via Tornabuoni, Gucci replaced its luxury goods on window display with photographs, while Prada hid its mannequins behind stylish yet strategically placed metal screens.

Several banks took down their signs and installed iron grilles after a group of protesters vowed to occupy a bank.

Police fear the protesters may be infiltrated by groups such as the notorious Black Bloc, which has been implicated in violent demonstrations worldwide.

A group calling itself the Disobedients has already threatened to invade Florence's historical centre if the Government tries to rule the zone off-limits.

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2002