The United States' largest trade union federation asked the federal attorney general on Wednesday to investigate alleged police abuses during protests against regional free trade talks in Miami last month.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney wrote to Attorney-General John Ashcroft, saying police turned away busloads of retirees, sprayed peaceful protesters in the face with pepper spray, shot others with rubber bullets and pointed guns at people's heads.

He said the use of $8.5 million in federal funds, set aside for security at the Miami trade talks in an $87.5 billion bill for the reconstruction of Iraq, justified a federal investigation of the Miami police.

"This abuse at the hands of the Miami police is an insult to the American labor movement, and to all Americans who believe in the basic rights guaranteed by our Constitution," Sweeney said in a letter.

"Not since the days of the civil rights movement have I witnessed such outrageous and inexcusable behavior by police who are sworn to protect us."

Sweeney, whose organization represents 13.2 million union members, also wrote to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, brother of U.S. President George W. Bush, demanding an independent probe.

The Nov. 17 to 21 Free Trade Area of the Americas meeting failed to make much headway toward establishing the world's largest free trade area, incorporating 34 nations of the hemisphere, by 2005.

Mindful of riots that marred World Trade Organization talks in Seattle in 1999, Miami's authorities threw an impregnable cordon of thousands of riot police around the meeting venue, and patrolled the streets with armored cars and helicopters.

A peaceful march on Nov. 20 by around 15,000 unionists, environmentalists, human rights activists and anarchists disintegrated at the end of the day into clashes with police.

While a few protesters threw rocks, built barricades and set garbage cans on fire, the overwhelming majority were peaceful. Nevertheless, they were herded out of the city center by volleys of rubber bullets, tear gas and pepper spray.

More than 200 people were arrested, many for "unlawful assembly," and activists say at least 100 needed medical care.

Rights group Amnesty International has also called for an investigation, saying the force used appeared to be well out of proportion. Activists are also considering lawsuits over civil rights violations and unlawful arrests.

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