Photos of Latin American protests against Bush

These are some of the photos being published of the protests taking place against President Bush as he departs on his trip to Latin America.

Policemen fight demonstrators during a protest against the upcoming visit of US President George W. Bush in Sao Paulo, Thursday, March 8, 2007. President Bush will visit Brazil March 8-9. (AP Photo/Maurilio Cheli)

Brazilians protest against the visit by U.S. President George W. Bush, scheduled to arrive later in the day for the first leg of a tour of five Latin American countries, along Sao Paulo's Paulista Avenue March 8, 2007. The poster reads, "Go Home Yankee Murderer." REUTERS/Caetano Barreira

A military police officer swings his baton at a demonstrator Thursday in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

More than 6,000 people marched down the streets of Sao Paulo to protest the visit of President Bush, who arrived later in the day to start a five-nation tour of Latin America. Bush has praised Brazil’s ethanol program, and protesters fear a proposed accord between the U.S. and Brazil would damage the Brazilian environment for the sake of alternative fuel. Source: The Associated Press

Police officers tackle a protester during Thursday’s march, which included students, environmentalists and left-leaning Brazilians.

The march got out of hand, witnesses say, when a few radical demonstrators crossed into traffic lanes and threw sticks at police officers. Source: The Associated Press.

Tear gas was fired at unruly protesters just hours before Bush was scheduled to arrive in Sao Paulo.

There were also reported clashes between protesters and police in Colombia, where Bush will visit Sunday. The president will then round out the next week by visiting Uruguay, Guatemala and Mexico. Source: The Associated Press.

Police and protesters square off in Sao Paulo, Latin America’s largest city.

The tear gas sent protesters running for cover. After the short clash, the march resumed with much smaller numbers. Source: The Associated Press.

Some of the protesters carried stalks of sugarcane, the crop used to make ethanol. They fear their country will be exploited.

“Bush and the United States go to war to control oil reserves, and now Bush and his pals are trying to control the production of ethanol in Brazil. And that has to be stopped,” said Suzanne Pereira dos Santos, an activist with Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement.

In Brazil, 80 percent of cars run on ethanol. Source: The Associated Press.

A police officer uses pepper spray on a demonstrator in Sao Paulo.

There was also a protest Thursday in Porto Alegre, Brazil. More than 500 people took part in the march there, which included a burning effigy of Bush. Source: The Associated Press.

Police officers in Sao Paulo clear out the street by firing tear gas at demonstrators. Source: The Associated Press.

Including police officers, Brazilian troops, the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, there will be about 4,000 security agents on hand while Bush is in Sao Paulo.

Brazil says it is the biggest security effort in its history. Source: The Associated Press.

You can find even more images of the protests against Bush on MSNBC News here.