By Leonardo Benassatto, Sergio Queiroz and Lisandra Paraguassu
BELEM, Brazil (Reuters) - Dozens of Indigenous protesters forced their way into the COP30 climate summit venue on Tuesday and clashed with
security guards at the entrance.
Shouting angrily, the protesters demanded access to the U.N. compound where thousands of delegates from countries around the world are attending this year's U.N. climate summit.
Security guards pushed the protesters back and used tables to barricade the entrance. A Reuters witness saw one security guard being rushed away in a wheelchair while clutching his stomach.
Another guard with a fresh cut above his eye told Reuters he had been hit in the head by a heavy drumstick thrown from the crowd. Security confiscated several batons.
The protesters dispersed shortly after the clash. They had been in a group of hundreds who marched to the venue in the Amazon city of Belem.
Security guards later allowed delegates to exit the venue, having earlier asked them to move back inside until the area was clear.
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has highlighted Indigenous communities at this year's COP30 as key players in the negotiations.
Earlier this week, dozens of Indigenous leaders arrived by boat to participate in the COP30 talks. They plan to demand more say in how forests are managed.
In a separate interview on Tuesday, a prominent Indigenous leader told Reuters that many from the Indigenous communities were upset with ongoing industry and development projects in the forest. Raoni Metuktire, also known as Chief Raoni, urged Brazil to empower native peoples to preserve the Amazon.
(Reporting by Leonardo Benassato, Serghio Queiroz, Lisandra Paraguassu and Ben Makori, Writing by William James; Editing by Katy Daigle and David Gregorio)
