By Humphrey Carter
THE controversial annual Fornalutx bull run went ahead early yesterday morning amidst a strong police presence to prevent any further altercations between animal rights campaigners and local residents.
Fornalutx is the only town in Majorca which continues to include the bull run through the town in its annual fiesta and last week animal rights campaigners descended on the town and staged a protest in the main square against the practice.
The Majorcan branch of the Anima Naturalis animal rights group staged a performance in the middle of the town using a human instead of the bull in a bid to increase public awareness to what they consider a barbaric event.
However, they were soon confronted by angry residents who approve of the annual fiesta.
The animal rights campaigners eventually came under attack from eggs and other objects thrown by the local residents and the Guardia Civil had to intervene to prevent the situation from getting out of hand.
In the end, the Guardia Civil had to escort all of the protesters out of the square to their cars. The Mayor of Fornalutx, Joan Alberti, accused the campaigners of deliberately provoking the local community while the coordinator of Anima Naturalis here in Majorca, Ismael Lopez, hit back claiming that they had been granted the necessary permission by the Central Government Delegate to stage the protest, unlike the locals. Nevertheless, yesterday's bull run went ahead without any major incidents while Anima Naturalis has vowed to continue its campaigns against the annual bull run in Fornalutx and bull fighting in Majorca.