18 detained protesters freed by Australian police

All 18 protesters, who had been detained for 'breaching peace' during a massive rally against attacks on Indian students in Melbourne, were released by the Australian police.

The 18, most of them Indian students studying in Australia, were detained in the early hours of Monday after police used force to break their protests. They had blocked one of the busiest streets in Melbourne. They were however released later in the day. Their identities were still not known.

"One protester has been charged with a damage-to-property offence," the Sydney Morning Herald said.

The protests were called off after protesters accused the police of high-handedness and 'ramrodding' them to break up their sit-in. However, Victoria police commissioner Simon Overland said the action was justified as protesters had ignored a final order to leave the busy street.

"There were blows, as I said, because arms had been linked, and there was a lot of resistance going on," he said.