(June 23, 2012) Demonstrators battled police in central Tel Aviv on Saturday nightin protest at what they said was excessive police use of force at arally the previous night.

An AFP photographer saw several scuffles between police and protestors on Saturday and at least one demonstrator had a bloody face.

The confrontation was in reaction to incidents in a smaller rally on Friday, where police arrested Dafni Leef, one of the leaders of asocial protest movement launched last summer and several others.

Police moved in as they were trying to put up protest tents on Rothschild Boulevard, in the city’s financial district.

Israeli media said thousands of protestors had turned out on Saturday, some blocking main thoroughfares in the city centre, shattering windows and at one point forcing their way into a closed bank before being removed by police.

News website Ynet said police detained 10 people for questioning.

The social movement erupted after young Israelis angry at the cost of housing in Tel Aviv pitched tents in the middle of an upscale neighbourhood to express their frustration.