Iraqis seized from Denmark church

Danish police have clashed with protesters as they moved to arrest a group of 17 Iraqis who had taken refuge in a Copenhagen church following the rejection of their asylum applications. Police forced their way into the Protestant Brorson church in a suburb of the Danish capital early on Thursday, pushing past at least 100 protesters who had tried to barricade the building. Some reports said pepper spray was used as the police tried to clear the protesters, five of whom were arrested. Video of the operation showed officers beating several protesters with their truncheons, and other incidents of what critics said was excessive or unnecessary force.