Australian police disperse anti-Israel protesters

Australian police used pepper spray on Sunday to stop demonstrators forcing their way into a hotel where Australian and Israeli ministers were about to meet, police said.

Australian deputy prime minister Julia Gillard was to meet Israel's deputy prime minister Silvan Shalom and dozens of Jewish delegates at the Melbourne hotel for a joint leadership forum.                                           

A police spokesman told Reuters a group of around 150 anti-Israel protesters had assembled nearby. 

The protest suddenly turned violent around the time Gillard was due to arrive, as protesters tried to force their way into the hotel. Police held them back and used pepper spray to control them.                                           

The crowd dispersed a short time later, with officers on horseback looking on. Three protesters were briefly arrested but no charges had been made, police said.