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Workers march in May Day rallies | Workers march in May Day rallies |
(about 4 hours 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 used tear gas and water cannon to disperse several hundred demonstrators. | In central Istanbul, Turkish police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse several hundred demonstrators. |
Overnight, German youths clashed with police in the capital Berlin. | Overnight, German youths clashed with police in the capital Berlin. |
Some 300 rallies are taking place across France, which has already seen strikes by hospital staff, fishermen and university staff, among others. | |
In Greece, police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators who vandalised shop-fronts and torched at least one car in central Athens, reports said. | |
Marches were also held in several Asian nations, including Cambodia, Japan and the Philippines. | |
Protesters have taken to the streets in the Russian capital, Moscow, while major demonstrations were also planned in Spain, Italy and Cuba. | |
"Workers are reiterating their demand that the government should find a way to stop mass lay-offs of workers and it should provide decent jobs, not short-lived jobs, not jobs for three months," said Leody de Guzman, of the Union of Filipino Workers. | |
Bottles and stones | Bottles and stones |
Across France, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities such as Marseille, Bordeaux and Grenoble, ahead of a major demonstration in Paris. | |
This year's traditional Labour Day in France comes against a backdrop of mounting social tension, reports the BBC's Paris correspondent Emma Jane Kirby. | |
class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/8027884.stm">Economic woes fuel French anger class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/8028861.stm">In pictures: May Day protests | |
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 Istanbul as hundreds of left-wing and trade union groups tried to pass through police checkpoints into the city's main Taksim square. | Violence erupted in Istanbul as hundreds of left-wing and trade union groups tried to pass through police checkpoints into the city's main Taksim square. |
The protesters had been refused permission to hold rallies in the square but, as in previous years, they chose to ignore the ban, reports the BBC's David O'Byrne in Istanbul. | |
The marchers took to the back streets after they were met with police water cannons, and hurled stones and other missiles at police who responded by firing tear gas. | The marchers took to the back streets after they were met with police water cannons, and hurled stones and other missiles at police who responded by firing tear gas. |
A large number of people are believed to have been arrested and there is considerable damage to shops and vehicles, but no serious injuries, our correspondent reports. | A large number of people are believed to have been arrested and there is considerable damage to shops and vehicles, but no serious injuries, our correspondent reports. |
Rubbish bins were set alight during clashes in Berlin | Rubbish bins were set alight during clashes in Berlin |
In Berlin, demonstrators clashed with police. Bottles and stones were thrown at police, passing cars and trams, and rubbish bins were set alight. | In Berlin, demonstrators clashed with police. Bottles and stones were thrown at police, passing cars and trams, and rubbish bins were set alight. |
The unrest 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. |
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: | 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: |
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. |
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At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
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