'Police want to destroy my loudhailer'

Protest leader John Minto today said police were seeking an order to destroy a loudhailer he used outside the ASB Classic tennis tournament venue in Auckland last week.

He described the move as "pathetic" and said it would be opposed.

Minto was speaking after appearing in Auckland District Court where he and seven others pleaded not guilty to charges they faced for their part in four days of demonstrations against Israeli Shahar Peer's presence at the tournament.

They were remanded on bail to reappear on February 9.

Minto, spokesman for Global Peace and Justice Auckland, has been charged with disorderly behaviour and obstructing police.

The others face similar counts, while one of them, Palestine Human Rights Campaign spokesman Janfrie Wakim, has also been charged with assault.

"I think we have a strong case," Minto said.

"This was annoying behaviour, we accept that, but it was not disruptive. Dissent is the oxygen that a democracy thrives on and this is an attack on that."

Despite the protests, Peer made it through to the semifinals, before losing to eventual title winner Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium.

- NZPA