(CNSNews.com) - Protestors unhappy about globalization, capitalism, the war in Iraq, climate change and other issues are trying to disrupt a gathering in Sydney of some of the world's leading business figures, hosted by Forbes Magazine editor-in-chief and former Republican presidential hopeful, Steve Forbes.

Protests and sit-ins were underway in the business district Wednesday, following skirmishes with police around the Australian city's landmark Opera House on Tuesday evening, when at least seven protestors were arrested.

On Tuesday evening, the Forbes CEO Global Conference of 350 business leaders moved their opening dinner from the Opera House to a previously unannounced venue in an attempt to sidestep the protests.

Guests at the dinner included former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Prime Minister John Howard, whom Forbes described as "one of the most extraordinary leaders in this extraordinary era."

Protests against the three-day event are being coordinated by activists loosely grouped together under the name 30A Network, named for Aug. 30, when the CEO meeting began.

"As the world plunges deeper in to war, poverty and misery, the people responsible for these atrocities will be meeting at the Sydney Opera House to plan the further corporatization, privatization and oppression of the world," the group states on its website.

Earlier, 30A Network issued a press release purporting to have originated from Forbes, falsely stating that former President George H.W. Bush would be attending the Sydney conference.

The release, which carried the web address for a fake "Forbes" website, was picked up by wire services and disseminated widely in the Australian press before it word spread that it was a hoax.

The 30A Network told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the phony release and website was "culture jamming" and had shown how shallow media coverage is.

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