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Romania protests: PM Emil Boc calls for dialogue | Romania protests: PM Emil Boc calls for dialogue |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc has called for dialogue and an end to violence after four days of protests against austerity cuts. | Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc has called for dialogue and an end to violence after four days of protests against austerity cuts. |
Dozens of people were hurt on Sunday, as demonstrators and riot police clashed for a second day running in the capital Bucharest. | Dozens of people were hurt on Sunday, as demonstrators and riot police clashed for a second day running in the capital Bucharest. |
The rallies began in support of an official who quit in protest against health care reforms. | The rallies began in support of an official who quit in protest against health care reforms. |
But they have grown into a broader hostility towards government policies. | But they have grown into a broader hostility towards government policies. |
The alliance of opposition parties has called for early elections. | The alliance of opposition parties has called for early elections. |
Unlikely catalyst | Unlikely catalyst |
More than 1,000 demonstrators rallied in University Square in the centre of Bucharest on Sunday, the scene of violence the night before. | More than 1,000 demonstrators rallied in University Square in the centre of Bucharest on Sunday, the scene of violence the night before. |
Demonstrators threw stones at riot police, who again responded by firing tear gas. | Demonstrators threw stones at riot police, who again responded by firing tear gas. |
A number of people were arrested, with officials saying that most of the trouble makers were young football fans. | A number of people were arrested, with officials saying that most of the trouble makers were young football fans. |
Peaceful protests were reported in a number of towns and cities across the country on Sunday, including Cluj, Timisoara, Brasov and Arad, as demonstrators called for the resignation of the government and of President Traian Basescu. | Peaceful protests were reported in a number of towns and cities across the country on Sunday, including Cluj, Timisoara, Brasov and Arad, as demonstrators called for the resignation of the government and of President Traian Basescu. |
Dozens of demonstrators were also said to have gathered in the centre of the capital on Monday. | Dozens of demonstrators were also said to have gathered in the centre of the capital on Monday. |
The government called an emergency meeting after Sunday night's clashes. | The government called an emergency meeting after Sunday night's clashes. |
Speaking on Monday, Prime Minister Emil Boc expressed sympathy with those struggling under austerity measures. | Speaking on Monday, Prime Minister Emil Boc expressed sympathy with those struggling under austerity measures. |
"The crisis has been harsher than we imagined," he said, but added that the violence "cannot be tolerated". | "The crisis has been harsher than we imagined," he said, but added that the violence "cannot be tolerated". |
The protests follow cuts to salaries, benefits and higher taxes but the unlikely catalyst was the resignation of popular health official Raed Arafat. | The protests follow cuts to salaries, benefits and higher taxes but the unlikely catalyst was the resignation of popular health official Raed Arafat. |
The Palestinian-born doctor came to Romania in the 1980s, and is a well-known and much-liked figure, due to the practical changes he made to improve the emergency services, the BBC's Nick Thorpe reports. | The Palestinian-born doctor came to Romania in the 1980s, and is a well-known and much-liked figure, due to the practical changes he made to improve the emergency services, the BBC's Nick Thorpe reports. |
Dr Arafat stepped down as Health Ministry undersecretary last Tuesday, after a series of public attacks on him by President Traian Basescu, our correspondent adds. | Dr Arafat stepped down as Health Ministry undersecretary last Tuesday, after a series of public attacks on him by President Traian Basescu, our correspondent adds. |
Dr Arafat opposed government measures to partially privatise Romania's shaky health care system. | Dr Arafat opposed government measures to partially privatise Romania's shaky health care system. |
President Basescu later announced that he was scrapping the unpopular reform, but that has failed to soothe the demonstrators' anger, our correspondent says. | President Basescu later announced that he was scrapping the unpopular reform, but that has failed to soothe the demonstrators' anger, our correspondent says. |