Crisis meeting as violent protests rock Romania

Romania’s government has called an emergency meeting to discuss violent protests that show no sign of abating after demonstrators angry about austerity measures hurled stones and firebombs at police. At least 13 people were injured.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jan 2012, 06:00 BST

More than 1,000 protesters clashed with police, who used tear gas and flares to repel demonstrators who blocked a main road in Bucharest. One man was briefly set ablaze during the chaos.

Interior Minister Traian Igas called an emergency meeting to deal with the crisis while mayor Sorin Oprescu called on demonstrators to refrain from violence.

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The protests, in their fourth day yesterday, are the most serious since President Traian Basescu came to power in 2004 and follow frustration against public wage cuts, slashed benefits, higher taxes, cronyism in state institutions and widespread corruption.

Protesters yelled “The Mafioso government stole everything we had!” and “Get out you miserable dog!” – a popular expression of contempt used to refer to Mr Basescu.

Protests began on Thursday in support of a health official who resigned because he opposed government health care reforms. Mr Basescu withdrew the health care bill on Friday, but protests continued.

Mr Basescu, 60, vowed to be a hands-on president when he came to power in 2004.