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| Police battle May Day protesters | Police battle May Day protesters |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Clashes have broken out in a number of countries as unions used traditional May Day marches to protest against the handling of the global economic crisis. | Clashes have broken out in a number of countries as unions used traditional May Day marches to protest against the handling of the global economic crisis. |
| In the Turkish city of Istanbul, riot police fired tear gas and water cannon as protesters threw petrol bombs and attacked banks and shops. | In the Turkish city of Istanbul, riot police fired tear gas and water cannon as protesters threw petrol bombs and attacked banks and shops. |
| Police made dozens of arrests in the German capital, Berlin, where protesters set fire to cars. | Police made dozens of arrests in the German capital, Berlin, where protesters set fire to cars. |
| Greek police battled to quell rioters in Athens after banks were attacked. | Greek police battled to quell rioters in Athens after banks were attacked. |
| There have also been marches in France and Russia, as well as the Philippines, Japan and Hong Kong, where demonstrators called on the authorities to do more to protect jobs. | There have also been marches in France and Russia, as well as the Philippines, Japan and Hong Kong, where demonstrators called on the authorities to do more to protect jobs. |
| Major demonstrations were also planned in Spain, Italy and Cuba. | 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. | "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 |
| Some 300 rallies are taking place across France, which has already seen strikes by hospital staff, fishermen and university staff, among others. | Some 300 rallies are taking place across France, which has already seen strikes by hospital staff, fishermen and university staff, among others. |
| Economic woes fuel French anger In pictures: May Day protests | Economic woes fuel French anger In pictures: May Day protests |
| Across the country, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities such as Marseille, Bordeaux and Grenoble, ahead of a major demonstration in Paris. | Across the country, 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. | 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. |
| 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 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 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 cannon, 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 cannon, and hurled stones and other missiles at police who responded by firing tear gas. |
| Rubbish bins were set alight during clashes in Berlin | Rubbish bins were set alight during clashes in Berlin |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |