Seven people were detained on Saturday when they tried to disrupt the ongoing spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), police sources said.

Demonstrators take part in the “Run on the Bank” protest near the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, April 25, 2009. The demonstrators protested against the IMF and the World Bank (WB) spring meetings and their handling of the world economic crisis.

Police sources said that six were arrested for vandalism and a seventh was taken into custody for assaulting a police officer.

The World Bank and IMF kicked off their spring meetings, a semi-annual event, at the IMF headquarters in downtown Washington D.C. on Saturday morning.

At least 100 people gathered outside the IMF headquarters in protest of the global financial institutions for ignoring issues such as environmental protection.

Roads around the IMF headquarters have been closed for public vehicles until Sunday when the two-day event is scheduled to conclude.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet