Eleven hurt in protests near Lithuanian parliament building
16.01.2009, 18.38
VILNIUS, January 16 (Itar-Tass) -- Eleven people were hurt in a protest against the economic policy of Lithuanian authorities on Friday. The protest developed into riots.
According to the Vilnius Emergency Hospital, one of the injured people has a head wound. Others were hurt with police rubber bullets.
Police on Friday used tear gas against a crowd of protesters in the square in front of the Lithuanian parliament building.
The mass protest action against the economic policy of the authorities was organised by trade unions. About 7,000 people are taking part in an unsanctioned rally. Reinforced police squads and special task force units have been sent to the site.
Some protesters have been throwing snowballs at the parliament’s windows demanding the appearance of speaker Arunas Valinskas before them.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told journalists on Friday that the government “is always ready for a dialogue” with trade unions and expressed hope that the protest action would be held in an organised manner and without incidents. After a meeting at the parliament the protesters intend to go to the government building.
“The demands are exclusively economic,” head of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Lithuania Arturas Cerniauskas said. “We do not intend to topple the government, but if it calls for tightening the belts, it should be done by everybody, including the authorities,” he added.
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