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Workers march in May Day rallies Workers march in May Day rallies
(20 minutes later)
Labour unions in dozens of countries around the world are using traditional May Day marches to protest over the handling of the global economic crisis.Labour unions in dozens of countries around the world are using traditional May Day marches to protest over the handling of the global economic crisis.
In central Istanbul, Turkish police fired water cannon to disperse several hundred demonstrators.
Overnight, German youths clashed with police in the capital Berlin.
Some 300 rallies are planned across France, which has already seen strikes from university academics, hospital staff and fishermen among others.Some 300 rallies are planned across France, which has already seen strikes from university academics, hospital staff and fishermen among others.
Germany is braced for further violence after youths in Berlin clashed with riot police in the early hours. Marches have been held in several Asian nations, including Cambodia, Japan and the Philippines.
Marches have been held in several Asian nations, including Cambodia and Japan. "Workers are reiterating their demand that the government should find a way to stop mass layoffs of workers and it should provide decent jobs, not short-lived jobs, not jobs for three months," Leody de Guzman, of the Union of Filipino Workers, said.
Bottles and stonesBottles and stones
This year's traditional Labour Day in France comes against a backdrop of mounting social tension, the BBC's Paris correspondent Emma Jane Kirby reports.This year's traditional Labour Day in France comes against a backdrop of mounting social tension, the BBC's Paris correspondent Emma Jane Kirby reports.
Economic woes fuel French angerEconomic woes fuel French anger
There is a growing perception that little has been done to protect the ordinary person's job and wages while executives from banks bailed out by the government have enjoyed generous pay-offs and bonuses, she says.There is a growing perception that little has been done to protect the ordinary person's job and wages while executives from banks bailed out by the government have enjoyed generous pay-offs and bonuses, she says.
The country's eight main unions have urged people to come out and protest in their third such day of action this year.The country's eight main unions have urged people to come out and protest in their third such day of action this year.
Violence erupted in Berlin overnight when some 200 protesters began chanting anti-capitalism slogans after a street party ended in a district of the Germany capital. Violence erupted in Istanbul as hundreds of stone-throwing protesters tried to pass through police checkpoints into a main city square.
They threw bottles and stones at the police, passing cars and trams and set several rubbish bins alight, police said. Police, attempting to disperse the crowds using water cannon, made several arrests.
In Berlin, demonstrators clashed with police. Bottles and stones were thrown at police, passing cars and trams, and rubbish bins were set alight.
It began when some 200 protesters began chanting anti-capitalism slogans after a street party ended in the early hours.
Twenty-nine police were injured, and at least 12 people were arrested.Twenty-nine police were injured, and at least 12 people were arrested.
Violence has been a feature of past May Days in Germany. Some 5,000 police are set to be deployed in Berlin.Violence has been a feature of past May Days in Germany. Some 5,000 police are set to be deployed in Berlin.
Workers in Cambodia, the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong have been marching to mark May Day. Major marches are also planned in Spain, Italy, Russia and Cuba.
Elsewhere in Europe, large demonstrations are being planned in Spain, Greece and Turkey.
Are you planning to protest on May Day over the handling of the global economic crisis? Please send us your comments using the form below: Are you planning to protest on May Day over the handling of the global economic crisis? Please send us your comments using the form at the bottom:
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