Dozens of protesters were arrested during angry confrontations with police in Windsor Sunday, as delegates began a meeting of the Organization of American States in Windsor.

In one case, officers used pepper spray and batons to stop demonstrators from putting up an anti-free trade banner on a chain fence that separated the crowd from the convention centre.

A few protesters lobbed homemade smoke bombs over the barricade. Riot police were then called in, but other protesters soon pulled the demonstrators back from the fence and urged them to calm down.

Police use pepper spray

In another incident some people sat in front of a bus being used by delegates, refusing to leave. Some began throwing rocks and spraying police with what was believed to be bleach. Again, pepper spray was used before the demonstrators were arrested.

Late Sunday authorities said 41 people had been arrested. There were no serious injuries reported.

It's the first time Canada has hosted an OAS General Assembly since joining the organization 10 years ago.

Riot police leave

Foreign ministers from 35 countries will discuss a wide range of issues over the next few days, such as fighting the drug trade, combating political corruption, protecting the environment, and improving human rights.

Parts of Windsor have been turned into a fortress, with concrete barriers and steel fences keeping about 2,000 protesters away from the downtown convention centre.

Organizers want to avoid the violent confrontations that erupted during the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle last year.

Chretien addresses OAS delegates

Peter Boeghm, Canada's ambassador to the OAS, says he knows some protesters have vowed to shut down the Windsor meeting. There is at least one Web site devoted to disrupting the talks.

The demonstrators are made up of a wide range of groups, from Bolivian mothers against domestic violence to Mexican priests lobbying for social justice. The OAS is blamed for everything from kidnapping in Colombia to clear-cutting of forests in Brazil.

North American labour groups against big business and free trade represent some of the loudest critics in the crowd. They argue that the OAS doesn't care about people, only the interests of Washington and multinational corporations.

Protesters arrested

But Boeghm says many of the protesters who claim to be concerned about human rights and democracy don't understand what the OAS does.

"I do find it somewhat ironic that there are groups out there that say 'let's shut down this organization,' when in fact this organization is discussing exactly the things that many of the protesters are concerned about."

For example, Boeghm says, this summit will talk about recent election irregularities in Peru. Delegates will also talk about human rights, and addressing the plight of the poor in places such as Haiti, as well as several Latin American countries.

NDP leader Alexa McDonough says labour leaders, and many other Canadians, are afraid Canada won't raise important issues that need to be discussed.

"How can Canada hold its head up? How can we say we are a leader in regard to these matters if we don't use these opportunities to press the human rights agenda?" asks McDonough.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien officially opened the 30th General Assembly of the OAS with a speech about the importance of free trade to economic strength and prosperity.

"A growing economy, good jobs, and the promise of new opportunity are the pillars of a secure society," he said.

Chretien urged delegates to support the idea of free trade throughout the hemisphere — a proposal being discussed by members right now. It's expected to be formally considered by the OAS at a meeting in Quebec City next spring.