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Australia immigration: Rival Melbourne rallies spark clashes Australia immigration: Rival Melbourne rallies spark clashes
(about 20 hours later)
Australian police have used pepper spray to break up clashes between two rival groups battling over race and immigration in Melbourne.Australian police have used pepper spray to break up clashes between two rival groups battling over race and immigration in Melbourne.
Demonstrators in a march against racism clashed with protesters against immigration, with hundreds of police trying to keep them apart.Demonstrators in a march against racism clashed with protesters against immigration, with hundreds of police trying to keep them apart.
Several people were arrested for rioting and assaulting police.Several people were arrested for rioting and assaulting police.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australia's multicultural society was still "a work in progress". Police condemned the behaviour of groups of demonstrators during the rallies in the suburb of Coburg.
Victoria state police condemned the behaviour of groups of demonstrators during the rallies in the suburb of Coburg.
"There was riotous behaviour and it was appalling," Commander Sharon Cowden told reporters, adding there were only minor injuries."There was riotous behaviour and it was appalling," Commander Sharon Cowden told reporters, adding there were only minor injuries.
Racism, immigration and the the fear of Islamist extremism have become important issues in the run-up to parliamentary elections, to be held in July.
The anti-immigration protesters carried banners saying "No refugees, our home, our future", according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).The anti-immigration protesters carried banners saying "No refugees, our home, our future", according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Demonstrators from the anti-racism group hurled abuse such as "Nazi scum, off our streets" at them. They were vastly outnumbered by demonstrators from the anti-racism group, who hurled abuse such as "Nazi scum, off our streets" at them.
Mr Turnbull stressed that the multicultural nature of Australian society was "one of our great achievements". Immigration has been a campaign issue in the run-up to parliamentary elections in July, though the economy, health and education have taken prominence.
But he added: "There is more work to do. This is not something to be complacent about. This is a work in progress." Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australia had the world's "most successful multicultural society" but it was still "a work in progress.
"There is more work to do. This is not something to be complacent about," he told reporters.
This story was updated on 29 May with further details on the size of the demonstration and the Australian election campaign.