Australian PM flees Aboriginal protest

Things got very ugly between Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s entourage and a group of Aboriginal protesters at an Australia Day even in Canberra today. The Sydney Morning Herald reports: 

Violent scenes were seen outside the Lobby restaurant several hundred metres from Parliament House, where Julia Gillard and Mr Abbott were presenting the inaugural National Emergency Medals, after more than 100 people from the tent embassy surrounded the building for more than 20 minutes. The situation was so volatile that Ms Gillard’s federal police escort decided to rush her from the event. As they did she stumbled and they dragged her from the restaurant to a car.

About 50 police, including members of the riot squad brandishing batons and carrying plastic shields, had clashed with angry protesters who were chanting ”shame”, ”racist” and ”always was, will be, Aboriginal land” and banging on the glass walls of the restaurant.

The protesters were reacting to comments by Australian opposition leader Tony Abbot, who was also at the event, who said it was time for Aboriginal activists to "move on" from the "tent embassy" they have occupied on the lawn of the parliament building in Canberra since 1972 to demand land rights and sovereignty. 

Activists from the tent embassy have vowed to continue protests, saying Australia will never win a seat on the U.N. Security Council unless it recognizes indigenous sovereignty.