Tens of thousands protest Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki

Protesters have rallied in Helsinki ahead of Monday's summit, as Scottish police charge a protester for flying a paraglider over the president's golf resort.

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN - Unidentified participants seen at the crowd at #HelsinkiCalling at the march in Helsinkil on Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Helsinki, Finland. (Photo by Tomi Hanninen/AP Images for Human Rights Campaign)

The #HelsinkiCalling march in protest of the US President's Helsinki visit. Source: AAP

A man has been charged after allegedly flying a paraglider and banner close to Donald Trump's golf resort in Scotland as about 2500 rallied in Helsinki ahead of the US president's summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Police say the paraglider, carrying a banner reading "Trump: Well Below Par", breached a security no-fly zone when it flew over the US president's Turnberry resort in western Scotland during Trump's visit there on Friday in protest against his environmental policies.

People protest in the streets of Helsinki
Finns have protested in Helsinki against the summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. (AAP) Source: Supplied

After the glider appeared, Trump was seen cutting across the grass, quickly heading to the entrance of the resort.

Scottish police say the 55-year-old man was arrested and charged on Sunday and he is due to appear in local court on Monday.

Trump and his wife Melania were on a private trip to the resort after the president's official talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May and a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II.

They are now in Helsinki, Finland ahead of a summit on Monday with Putin.

During Trump's visit to the UK, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of London, Edinburgh and other British cities on Friday and Saturday to protest his first official visit to Britain. Smaller groups also demonstrated outside Trump's two golf resorts in Scotland.

In Helsinki, some 1,500 people demonstrated on Sunday for human and sexual rights, democracy and environmental issues. They marched through central Helsinki shouting "Human rights for all!" and "Helsinki calling for Mr. Putin, Helsinki calling for Mr. Trump!"

One protester held a sign that read, "Build saunas not war!"

Organisers say the protest wasn't aimed at either president but was designed to focus on important global issues.

"We celebrate the Helsinki spirit here ... and we welcome everybody who respects human rights and democracy and doesn't share fake news," Helsinki native Timo Heikkinen, 50, said.

Supporters Supporters of Donald Trump welcomed the US President to Finland.
Supporters of Donald Trump welcomed the US President to Finland. Source: AAP


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