Financial Crisis People start to protest at financial mismangement 11/10/08 09:26 CET

The first signs of the public backlash are starting to show in the epicentres of the financial earthquake.

In London on Friday several hundred people laid seige to the Royal Exchange and tried to force their way in. Police turned them back, and the protestors then ran through some city centre streets before dispersing. No arrests were made, although some of the protestors clearly thought some bankers should go behind bars.

In Iceland it was the central bank’s governor who was the target of protestor’s ire, with a crowd of about 200 people gathering in Reykjavik to call for his resignation.

Two women held up a sign saying “stay calm while we rob you”, a comment on the government’s calls for level heads.

Iceland has had to nationalise its three biggest banks, has sought financial help from Russia, and may also have to call on the IMF to prevent a financial meltdown.