British riot police move in to clear illegal homes at the controversy center

British riot police moved in Wednesday morning to clear a controversial group of illegal homes after a long legal battle -- and despite the United Nations' urging for a different resolution.
Smoke rose from the Dale Farm compound in Essex, about 30 miles east of London, as police dragged people out. An elderly woman in a wheelchair was among those removed.
At least one mobile home was set on fire.
The eviction "threatens 83 families with homelessness," residents of Dale Farm said in a statement early Wednesday.


"The only premeditated violence has come from the police. They knew exactly what they were doing when they started beating and tasering people," said Mary Sheridan, a Dale Farm resident left the site and is staying with a relative.
"This is not how a community should be treated by its own Council. It's illegal for us to travel, but illegal for us to settle down here. We're getting hit by the police but we've got nowhere else to go," she said.


There was an air of resignation among the residents who were left a few hours after the police operation started.
Most withdrew to the compound's few plots of land that have legal housing, leaving police facing off against nonresident activists who mounted scaffolding as part of a protest.
"We are now in control of the site, tension has reduced and bailiffs are now starting to actively take steps to clear the site," police superintendent Trevor Roe said by early afternoon.


Seven people were arrested for offenses including violent disorder and breach of the peace, Essex Police said. Police used a stun gun on one person, they said, changing their earlier statement that two people had been shot with stun guns.
Dale Farm has been at the center of controversy for years, with local authorities insisting that the residents -- locally called Gypsies or "travelers" -- leave because they do not have planning permission for permanent residences.


A United Nations anti-discrimination committee last month urged British authorities not to go ahead with planned evictions as the residents lost their case in court.
Police entered the settlement from both sides, local authorities said.
Officers on the scene said they were moving cautiously because the main gate was heavily fortified.


But residents said police were smashing their way in with sledgehammers.
Tony Ball, leader of Basildon Council, said defenders of the settlement fought police with rocks, bricks and iron bars, and set the mobile home on fire themselves.
"These are utterly disgraceful scenes and demonstrate the fact some so-called supporters were always intent on violence," Ball said in a statement.


CNN was not able to confirm independently who started the violence.
One resident said the community was being "ripped apart by Basildon Council and the politicians in government."
"The memory of Dale Farm will weigh heavily on Britain for generations. We are being dragged out of the only homes we have in this world," Kathleen McCarthy said in a statement.
Earlier, the UN's Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed "deep regret" that authorities planned to force the residents to leave "before identifying and providing culturally appropriate accommodation."


"Travelers and Gypsies already face considerable discrimination and hostility in wider society and the Committee is deeply concerned that this could be worsened by actions taken by authorities in the current situation and by some media reporting on the issues," the committee said in a September statement.

Britain's queen on 10-day visit to Australia

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrived in Canberra Wednesday for her 16th -- and possibly last -- official visit to Australia.
The 85-year-old monarch will open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth on October 28 as part of a 10-day visit to the country with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The reaction in the media and among most Australians has been warm and respectful, despite the lingering issue of republicanism in a country where the queen is the official head of state -- though this is largely ceremonial.


"There is an enormous amount of respect and goodwill [towards the queen], regardless of political views," said Phillip Coorey, chief political correspondent at the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Even people who are republicans like the queen. She's a person who's hard to dislike. She's been present throughout their lifetimes and their parents' lifetimes."
Coorey said he expects this visit to be far more emotional, given that this is widely considered to be her last.
Since a landmark 1999 referendum when more than half of all Australians polled voted against republicanism, the issue has been mostly sidelined on the nation's political agenda.
A recent opinion poll revealed that 55% of Australians support the monarchy, while 34% support a republic-- the lowest percentage in 23 years.


Coorey suggested the issue of republicanism was "very much on hold," with republicans unlikely to press their agenda while Queen Elizabeth is on the throne.
He suggested the "best time for [republicans] to make their move" would be when Prince Charles, who is not as popular among ordinary Australians, inherits the throne, compared with his hugely popular son, Prince William, who is next in line.
William's marriage to long-time girlfriend Catherine Middleton earlier this year revitalized popular interest and affection towards the monarchy around the world. One Australian newspaper -- The Advertiser -- said the live broadcast of the royal wedding "forc[ed] Friday night football to second television status in most households."


"I know Prince William's visit really gave people a shot in the arm after the terrible disasters we had and I'm sure that people will feel the same when they see Queen Elizabeth here...," Queensland Premier Anna Bligh told the Australian Associated Press, referring to the floods that devastated much of the state at the start of the year.


Ultimately, the throne's occupant is but one factor in determining the viability of a republic.
Coorey noted that both Australia's prime minister and opposition leader would need to be republicans in order to carry enough votes for a successful referendum. Tony Abbott, the current opposition leader who is widely expected to become the next prime minister, is a staunch monarchist.


But even if Australia becomes a republic, there is no agreement among republicans about what kind of republic to have. "I think it's going to be a long long time [before Australia becomes a republic]," predicted Coorey. "Australia is a very conservative country; people here don't like change."