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Fresh clashes over Estonia statue | Fresh clashes over Estonia statue |
(about 7 hours later) | |
More than 300 people were detained and at least 10 hurt after a second night of riots in Estonia's capital Tallinn. | |
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets after new clashes erupted over the removal of a Soviet war memorial. | |
Police were confronted by mainly ethnic Russian demonstrators, some of whom threw petrol bombs and were involved in looting. | |
Estonia says the memorial symbolised Soviet occupation. Supporters say it celebrated heroes who fought the Nazis. | Estonia says the memorial symbolised Soviet occupation. Supporters say it celebrated heroes who fought the Nazis. |
The monument was removed on Friday and taken to a secret location. | The monument was removed on Friday and taken to a secret location. |
One person died and more than 40 were injured after Thursday night's clashes. | |
Looting | |
Correspondents said a crowd of more than 1,000 demonstrators gathered on Friday evening where the monument used to stand. | |
ESTONIA-RUSSIA TIES 1918: Estonia gained independence from Russia 1940: Forcibly incorporated into Soviet Union1941-1944: Occupied by Nazi Germany1944: Soviets return as Nazis retreat1991: Gains independence as Soviet Union collapses1994: Last Russian forces leave EstoniaNow: Ethnic Russians make up quarter of Estonia's 1.3m people History at the heart of row In pictures: Thursday clashes Have Your Say | ESTONIA-RUSSIA TIES 1918: Estonia gained independence from Russia 1940: Forcibly incorporated into Soviet Union1941-1944: Occupied by Nazi Germany1944: Soviets return as Nazis retreat1991: Gains independence as Soviet Union collapses1994: Last Russian forces leave EstoniaNow: Ethnic Russians make up quarter of Estonia's 1.3m people History at the heart of row In pictures: Thursday clashes Have Your Say |
Violence broke out in Tallinn's Freedom Square. A BBC reporter saw at least five injured people being carried away. | |
Some of the demonstrators waved Russian flags and chanted "Rossiya, Rossiya" (Russia, Russia). | |
There were reports of looting at department stores and other shops. | |
By Saturday morning the situation in central Tallinn was described as calm, but the authorities are braced for more trouble. | |
There were also reports of rioting and looting in the towns of Johvi and Kohtla-Jarve, in a mainly ethnic Russian region northeast of Tallinn. | |
AFP news agency said that in Johvi looters set fire to a statue of an Estonian general who fought the Russians during the country's 1918 war of independence. | |
The decision to remove the Soviet monument has strained relations with Russia, which called it "blasphemous". | |
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would "take serious steps", and Russia's Federation Council (upper house) called for diplomatic relations with Estonia to be cut. | Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would "take serious steps", and Russia's Federation Council (upper house) called for diplomatic relations with Estonia to be cut. |
'Criminal riots' | 'Criminal riots' |
More than a quarter of Estonia's 1.3m people are ethnically Russian, and speak the language. | |
HAVE YOUR SAY The statue was a symbol of occupation in Estonia and should have been removed in 1991 Kaarel, Tallinn Send us your comments | |
One of the protesters told the BBC: "It's like neo-Nazism has raised its head. It will be a great disaster for connections between the two societies." | |
Estonia's government would not reveal where it took the six-foot (1.83m) statue, but spokesman Martin Jasko said it would ultimately be placed at the military cemetery in Tallinn. | Estonia's government would not reveal where it took the six-foot (1.83m) statue, but spokesman Martin Jasko said it would ultimately be placed at the military cemetery in Tallinn. |
The memorial, a bronze statue of a Soviet soldier, was erected in 1947. The remains of Soviet soldiers are thought to be buried nearby. | The memorial, a bronze statue of a Soviet soldier, was erected in 1947. The remains of Soviet soldiers are thought to be buried nearby. |
Estonian officials said it had to be moved to a cemetery because the site attracted both Russian and Estonian nationalists. | Estonian officials said it had to be moved to a cemetery because the site attracted both Russian and Estonian nationalists. |