ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 24, 1996 TAG: 9611250178
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-15 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BANGALORE, INDIA
SOURCE: Associated Press
Clashes between rock-throwing protesters and police firing tear gas and rubber bullets failed to stop the Miss World pageant from going forward Saturday, when Miss Greece, Irene Skliva, won the crown.
Before the pageant finals began, about 1,000 demonstrators denouncing beauty contests as demeaning to women tried to block roads leading to the site of the pageant, a cricket stadium. Many chanted ``Go Home Miss World.''
Police swung bamboo canes and fired rubber bullets and tear gas into the rock-throwing crowds, and at least 50 people were injured.
Several policemen were hospitalized with burning eyes after some protesters hurled fiery red chili powder at them, an officer at the police control room said.
Nearly 10,000 policemen, many armed with rifles, batons and shields, were deployed to prevent violence, making the 1996 show, according to organizers, the most well-guarded Miss World since the pageants began.
Hundreds of people with tickets were unable to get into the stadium even an hour after the nearly three-hour show began due to tight security. Large parts of the stadium were vacant.
Police arrested 1,650 people Friday and Saturday, holding many of them under laws allowing people suspected of planning unrest to be detained.
Saturday's effort to stop the pageant - held for the first time in India - followed weeks of protests.
Skliva, an 18-year-old model clad in a white and silver gown, raised her hands to her face in surprise upon hearing herself proclaimed the winner at the end of the peaceful finals ceremony.
After receiving a silver crown from 1995 winner Jacqueline Aguilera Marcano of Venezuela, she waved and blew kisses to the crowd.
Miss Colombia, Carolina Arango, was the first runner-up, while Miss Brazil, Anuska Prado, placed third.
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. 1. Miss World Irene Skliva. 2. An activist of theby CNBCommunist Federation of India demonstrates near the Miss World
beauty pageant Saturday. KEYWORDS: 2DA