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Sydney, 20 Dec. (AKI) - Police broke up a crowd of 800 protesters in the outskirts of Sydney on Wednesday night as they sought to oppose plans for an Islamic school.
Media reports said officers blocked many of the protesters from a public meeting to discuss the school proposal, held at the Camden Civic Centre and riot police were on standby to prevent any violence.
Police were anxious to prevent any repetition of the race riots that occurred on Sydney's Cronulla Beach two years ago and led to the expansion of police powers.
Men reportedly carried banners saying "Aussie Pride" and shouted at security guards.