Hundreds injured in Romania protests

An anti-government protest in Bucharest has drawn thousands of Romanians from abroad to demand the government resign over moves to change corruption laws

A woman shouts slogans in front of a riot police line during protests outside the government headquarters, in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018.

A woman shouts slogans in front of a riot police line during protests outside the government headquarters, in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Source: AAP

A total of 440 people, including two dozen riot police, have received medical treatment after an anti-government protest turned violent, Romanian authorities say.

The Bucharest-Ilfov Emergency Service said that, of those, 65 people including nine riot police were taken to the hospital. There were no immediate reports of life-threatening injuries.

Some people sustained head and other injuries, while others were overcome by tear gas, the service said.

The anti-government protest in Bucharest Friday drew tens of thousands Romanians from abroad and local residents who demanded the government resign over moves to change laws that critics say would make it harder to prosecute corruption.

It turned violent late Friday after riot police fired tear gas and water cannon to quell protesters. Some individuals lobbed rocks, bottles and smoke bombs at riot police.

There were accusations that soccer hooligans had infiltrated the largely peaceful protest and deliberately committed acts of violence.

President Klaus Iohannis, a critic of the left-wing government, condemned "the brutal intervention of riot police".


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Published 11 August 2018 5:20pm
Source: AAP


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