NICOLA Sturgeon has urged climate protesters not to add to the “disruption and inconvenience” Glaswegians are already facing during COP26.
The First Minister said Police Scotland has made clear there will be a “sensitive policing operation” during the crucial climate summit.
But she asked demonstrators to protest peacefully and “with recognition that the people of Glasgow are agreeing to host the conference and suffering some disruption because of that”.
It came as she refused to meet cleansing workers in Glasgow to discuss the city’s rat problem, and accused Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar of talking the city down for raising it at Holyrood.
COP26, which takes place between Sunday and November 12, will see more than 25,000 delegates descend on Glasgow as well as thousands of protesters and activists.
More than 120 world leaders are due to attend, including US President Joe Biden.
During First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross pressed Ms Sturgeon on whether she is “fully confident that Glasgow is ready to grasp this opportunity”.
He said there is “real potential for disruption from protest groups at COP26 that risks public safety”.
Mr Ross insisted there must be a “zero-tolerance” approach to unlawful protests.
Ms Sturgeon said it is for Police Scotland to decide the appropriate approach to policing demonstrations.
She said Chief Constable Iain Livingstone has been clear there will be a “sensitive policing operation that will do everything possible to facilitate appropriate and peaceful protest”.
She added: “However, Police Scotland will respond to any protests that seek to break the law and disrupt people beyond what would be considered reasonable.
“People want to come and make their voices heard. That is understandable, given the importance of the issues that are under discussion.
“However, I say to people who are looking to come to protest in Glasgow that they should do it peacefully and with recognition that the people of Glasgow are agreeing to host the conference and suffering some disruption because of that, so they should not add to that disruption for them.
“Let us all get behind the people who will negotiate a good outcome – I hope – for the future of the planet.”
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