Security at the WTO conference try to block protesters entering the convention hall.

Six days of World Trade Organisation talks have begun despite protesters entering the main conference, and others clashing with police outside.

The protests come amid little optimism that a new global free trade deal will be achieved.

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, urged trade ministers to do their best to make gains, and avoid disappointing poor people throughout the world.

Caribbean nations have insisted that the talks pursue a development agenda -- which in their view, means special help for small countries in coping with a new world trade order.

"If we accept drastic liberalisation without special and differential treatment, we will find that our societies are not ready for them," Barbados prime minister Owen Arthur said ahead of the talks.

Transition

Mr Arthur said the free trade agenda was also taking place at a time when the region was preparing for a world where trade preferences don't exist.

"We have fundamental need for transition mechanisms," he said.

In Hong Kong, the head of the Caribbean Regional Trade Negotiating Office, Richard Bernal, said expectations were low for success this week.

"But we are determined to ensure that our interests are kept at the centre of the discussions to the extent that we are able to do that."

Mr Bernal said developing countries were concerned that their priority issues were being sidelined by rich nations.

Officials of the World Trade Organisation have been working on a possible deal for the past four years.

The poorer countries are arguing that the richer ones must cut subsidies and import tariffs in order to help their farmers.

But the richer nations want the larger developing nations to do more to open their markets to competition.

The smaller countries believe they are in danger of being drowned out by the crossfire.