Police arrest 34 after riot in Portugal

Police arrested 34 people, mostly Britons, yesterday after a second night of violence in Portugal's Algarve tourist region.

Hooligans wearing England soccer shirts threw bottles and chairs at police in the same area of bars and restaurants in the resort town where about 200 fans rioted the previous night, police and eye witnesses said.

Lines of police moved into the crowd and used batons to disperse them. There were running battles along the street.

"I can say that there are 34 arrested," a spokeswoman for the GNR paramilitary force said.

Those detained included 33 Britons, a British embassy official said.

England fans have a reputation for hooliganism and caused serious trouble in France during the World Cup in 1998 and in Belgium at the last Euro Championship in 2000.

Later yesterday 12 Britons, a Russian and a Portuguese appeared in court accused of causing a public disturbance after clashes with police on Tuesday morning.

The foreigners faced being immediately deported after the GNR paramilitary police who detained them requested they be sent home.

A judge gave the defendants the option of remaining for the outcome of a trial. Several said they did not want to be handed over for deportation but to hear the outcome of the proceedings.

GNR captain Manuel Jorge said up to 400 people were involved in the clashes yesterday morning. Two Britons and one police officer were slightly injured, Lusa news agency said.

UEFA and Britain's Home Office (interior ministry) said the violence in Albufeira had little to do with the England team and a lot to do with young men on holiday drinking too much cheap alcohol.

UEFA has warned the English FA that the national team could be banned from the tournament if fans cause trouble in Portugal.

The head of the British police force offering advice at Euro 2004 said the rioters were a disgrace but added that the incidents bore no signs of organised soccer hooliganism.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said they brought shame on their country.

"In respect of the outbreaks of disorder let me make it absolutely clear those are completely intolerable and the police should come down very heavily and will do, I have no doubt at all," he told parliament in London.

Gangs of youths began arriving on the streets of Albufeira after midnight and chanting revellers were soon blocking the road singing football songs.

Then groups of men, many of them were wearing England shirts, started throwing bottles and chairs at police. Officers called for reinforcements in riot gear, with dogs and on horseback.

The England squad at Euro 2004 are based nearly 300 km (200 miles) from the Algarve but many fans have chosen to stay on the southern coast, a popular destination for British holidaymakers.