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| Rally demands new Latvian polls | Rally demands new Latvian polls |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least 7,000 Latvians have rallied peacefully in the capital, Riga, to call for the government to step down and for action against corruption. | At least 7,000 Latvians have rallied peacefully in the capital, Riga, to call for the government to step down and for action against corruption. |
| It was the second large protest in two weeks against a cabinet widely condemned for trying to dismiss the head of the anti-corruption agency. | It was the second large protest in two weeks against a cabinet widely condemned for trying to dismiss the head of the anti-corruption agency. |
| Auditors recently detected financial irregularities in the agency. | Auditors recently detected financial irregularities in the agency. |
| But opposition figures say that was an excuse to stop it investigating people close to the prime minister. | But opposition figures say that was an excuse to stop it investigating people close to the prime minister. |
| The political crisis in Latvia has led to growing speculation that the coalition government could collapse. | The political crisis in Latvia has led to growing speculation that the coalition government could collapse. |
| Correspondents say Saturday's demonstration was one of biggest since Latvia gained independence from the USSR in 1991. | Correspondents say Saturday's demonstration was one of biggest since Latvia gained independence from the USSR in 1991. |
| It is just over a year since Latvia's last parliamentary election in which Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis won a historic second term. | It is just over a year since Latvia's last parliamentary election in which Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis won a historic second term. |
| President's appeal | President's appeal |
| Mr Kalvitis, who leads a centre-right coalition, suspended anti-corruption chief Aleksejs Loskutovs in late September in a move which took many by surprise. | Mr Kalvitis, who leads a centre-right coalition, suspended anti-corruption chief Aleksejs Loskutovs in late September in a move which took many by surprise. |
| Aleksejs Loskutovs heads the anti-corruption agency since 2004 | Aleksejs Loskutovs heads the anti-corruption agency since 2004 |
| Last week, he withdrew his decision but the government has lost three ministers in connection with the affair. | Last week, he withdrew his decision but the government has lost three ministers in connection with the affair. |
| President Valdis Zatlers has called on the government to resign after a budget vote next week. | President Valdis Zatlers has called on the government to resign after a budget vote next week. |
| "The president believes that the government would be honest if it resigned as a whole after the acceptance of the state budget," a presidential spokeswoman said. | "The president believes that the government would be honest if it resigned as a whole after the acceptance of the state budget," a presidential spokeswoman said. |
| Mr Zatlers joined the rally on Saturday, urging demonstrators to abide by the constitution, the Associated Press news agency reports. | Mr Zatlers joined the rally on Saturday, urging demonstrators to abide by the constitution, the Associated Press news agency reports. |
| "We should not play with democracy," he said in a speech interrupted several times by demonstrators' calls to dissolve parliament. | "We should not play with democracy," he said in a speech interrupted several times by demonstrators' calls to dissolve parliament. |
| The rally backed an appeal to the government to ensure the independence of the legal system and fight corruption, Reuters reports. | The rally backed an appeal to the government to ensure the independence of the legal system and fight corruption, Reuters reports. |
| Were you at the rally in Riga? What was the mood like? Send us your account and/or pictures using the form below. | Were you at the rally in Riga? What was the mood like? Send us your account and/or pictures using the form below. |
| You can send pictures and video to: | You can send pictures and video to: |
| yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions | yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions |
| 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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