LIMASSOL -  Serious incidents errupted outside the British Base of Akrotiri near Limassol on Monday evening, during a demonstration staged by a newly established group opposed to the presence of the British bases in Cyprus, the Cyprus News Agency reported
It said that the incidents -- between British Base police and demonstrators taking part in the protest organised by the National Anti Colonial Platform started around 8.00 pm when British Base police approached the demonstrators and they started throwing stones and molotovs against them. . A British Bases helicopter over flew the scene as police tried to remove the demonstrators.
A British Bases spokesperson told the Associated Press that two people were arrested. Conniie Pierce told AP that three policemen and one television journalist suffered minor injuries.Earlier the CNA had said there were 10 injuries.
CyBC said that about 100 demonstrators had driven to close to the entrance of Akrotiri. It said that scuffles broke out when a small group of demonstrators threw stones, wood and molotovs at the police who were armed with clubs.
Britain retains two sovereign military bases on Cyprus under the 1960 treaties which gave the island its independence from British colonial rule. A  recent defence review  in London concluded that Britain would retain both bases, despite savings being made by the Ministry of Defence elsewhere.
Akrotiri is one of the biggest RAF Bases outside the U K. Last month British  Defence Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed Britain's "enduring commitment" to the bases, saying they had proved their worth during air operations in Libya and as a logistic hub for activities in Afghanistan.
"The sovereign base areas are in a region of geo-political importance and high priority for the United Kingdom's long-term national security interests," he said in a written statement to parliament.
The bases would also play a role in the withdrawal of British military operations from Afghanistan, Hammond added, as Britain brings back its 9,500 troops by the end of 2014.
The Cyprus review, announced in May, followed an extensive examination of defence needs, which has led to plans for sharp cuts in military personnel and equipment over four years.
The RAF base at Akrotiri and the army barracks at Dhekelia cover 98 sq miles (254 sq km) or around 3 percent of Cyprus's landmass.
Monday's demo by the National Anti Colonial Platform wasintended as a protest to these statements.