Nearly 1,000 people were injured in the riots that broke out Saturday during the largest-yet protest against the G8 summit in the German port city of Rostock, DPA reported.

Police spokesman Frank Scheulen said that 433 police officers were injured, 30 of whom suffered serious injuries. Around 520 demonstrators were wounded, primarily by stinging tear gas.

The demonstrations turned violent after protesters in black masks and hoods started throwing stones, bottles and flaming objects at the police. The police responded with tear gas, water cannons and batons.

Official information puts the number of protesters at 25,000, while the organizers claim at least 80,000 people joined the demonstration.

The three-day summit opens Wednesday in the nearby resort town of Heiligendamm, where German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosts the leaders of the other G-8 nations - Britain, France, Japan, Italy, Russia, Canada, and the United States.

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