WTO's New Chief Goes into Battle to Defend Free Trade ; NEWS ANALYSIS: Protests Are Likely to Disrupt the Organisation's Talks in Seattle When It Attempts to Tackle the Thorny Issue of Import Restrictions

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AS THE 20th century draws to a close, the notion of free trade - one of the key elements of the economic expansion of the past 100 years - is under attack. Adebate has started over whether trade helps or hinders the world's poorest countries.

In December the World Trade Organisation launches the Millennium Round of talks in Seattle. They are aimed at breaking down barriers to trade and building on agreements hammered out during the last talks in Uruguay.

Seattle won't know what has hit it. Mike Moore, who took over as director general of the WTO three weeks ago, will be confronted by as many as 100,000 protesters from a large coalition of aid charities and …