SYDNEY, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of anti-war protesters gathered on Wednesday morning to rally outside a defense industry exposition in Melbourne in Australia's state of Victoria, local media reported.

Demonstrators began to gather at 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday outside the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition in Melbourne's CBD, waving Palestinian flags and banging drums while chanting "free Palestine" amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

City roads were blocked and public transport was disrupted on Wednesday morning.

Police clashed with protesters and used capsicum spray as projectiles were thrown at mounted officers, said local media.

Running from Wednesday until Friday at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the biennial conference has attracted hundreds of companies and organizations displaying lethal technology.

The state government of Victoria granted police special powers under anti-terror legislation to search people and vehicles in the area surrounding the event and called in additional police from regional areas and interstate to bolster security.

Australia's Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy has condemned the protests. Enditem

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