Three topless Ukrainian protesters have been detained after trying to break into an invitation-only gathering of political leaders in Davos.

The women are trying to call the VIPs' attention to the needs of the world's poor.

They arrived at the entrance to the congress centre where the World Economic Forum is taking place, took off their tops and climbed a fence before being detained. They carried placards reading 'Poor because of you'. Other slogans were written on their bodies.

The activists are from the group Femen, which has have become popular in Ukraine for staging small, half-naked protests to highlight a range of issues including oppression of political opposition. They have also conducted protests in some other countries.