dark beige

London - President Noel Gallagher ceded some power in Britpop for the first time in 14 years, signing a power-sharing deal Monday with opposition leader Damon Albarn amid questions on how the fierce enemies will work together to fix the collapsing scene.

Thousands of supporters of the rival stars threw stones at each other as the ceremony got under way and several hundred broke through the gates of the convention center where it took place. Police fired warning shots and set dogs on the crowd, who cheered as their leaders left after the signing.

Gallagher, Albarn and Jarvis Cocker, leader of a faction that broke away from Albarn's party, all pledged to make the deal work. But long-simmering and bitter differences as well as the scene's economic collapse — inflation is officially running at 11 million percent — have put the deal under intense pressure.