Rubber bullets fired in Salt Lake centre

Rubber bullets were fired as about 50 riot police struggled to control a rampaging crowd in central Salt Lake City, venue of the Winter Olympics, police said on Sunday.

The crowd had broken several shop windows, Reuters eye witnesses said, and started throwing rocks and bottles at the police.

The crowd of young people went on the rampage shortly after midnight when police tried to stop them drinking. An area was cordoned off by police cars, the witnesses said.

Helicopters hovered overhead with searchlights on as a series of running battles took place.

The hotel housing the International Olympic Committee was cordoned off by troops carrying automatic weapons.