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Romania reinstates Raed Arafat after protests | |
(40 minutes later) | |
The Romanian government is reinstating a popular health official after days of protests over privatisation plans and austerity measures. | The Romanian government is reinstating a popular health official after days of protests over privatisation plans and austerity measures. |
Prime Minister Emil Boc said Raed Arafat, who resigned over plans to partially privatise emergency services, would return to his job. | Prime Minister Emil Boc said Raed Arafat, who resigned over plans to partially privatise emergency services, would return to his job. |
The deputy health minister would be part of a team drafting a new health bill, Mr Bloc said. | The deputy health minister would be part of a team drafting a new health bill, Mr Bloc said. |
Protests began on Thursday and have taken place across the country. | Protests began on Thursday and have taken place across the country. |
But correspondents say the cause of the demonstrations has moved beyond health into wider anger at austerity measures and a weak economy. | |
As night fell on Tuesday, about 200 anti-government demonstrators gathered in the centre of the capital, Bucharest, and yelled slogans against President Traian Basescu, the Associated Press news agency reports. | As night fell on Tuesday, about 200 anti-government demonstrators gathered in the centre of the capital, Bucharest, and yelled slogans against President Traian Basescu, the Associated Press news agency reports. |
Dozens of people were injured in clashes over the weekend. | Dozens of people were injured in clashes over the weekend. |
Appeal against violence | Appeal against violence |
The resignation of Raed Arafat, a Palestinian-born doctor who came to Romania in the 1980s and did much to reorganise the emergency services, sparked riots in Bucharest and other Romanian towns. | The resignation of Raed Arafat, a Palestinian-born doctor who came to Romania in the 1980s and did much to reorganise the emergency services, sparked riots in Bucharest and other Romanian towns. |
He stepped down as health ministry undersecretary last Tuesday after a series of public attacks on him by President Basescu. | He stepped down as health ministry undersecretary last Tuesday after a series of public attacks on him by President Basescu. |
President Basescu later announced he was scrapping the unpopular reform but failed to soothe the demonstrators' anger. | President Basescu later announced he was scrapping the unpopular reform but failed to soothe the demonstrators' anger. |
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Boc announced Dr Arafat would be "restored to his former position of undersecretary of state". | On Tuesday, Prime Minister Boc announced Dr Arafat would be "restored to his former position of undersecretary of state". |
"Mr Arafat remains the same expert and professional in his field... and will be part of the team working on the new healthcare bill," he added. | "Mr Arafat remains the same expert and professional in his field... and will be part of the team working on the new healthcare bill," he added. |
"Street violence will only impair our chance of creating prosperity more rapidly and put at risk Romania's situation on an international level," he said. | "Street violence will only impair our chance of creating prosperity more rapidly and put at risk Romania's situation on an international level," he said. |
Dr Arafat himself said his return was "not due to pressure from the street", though he thanked his supporters. | Dr Arafat himself said his return was "not due to pressure from the street", though he thanked his supporters. |
It was, he said, due to the government's willingness to engage in dialogue after plans to change the public emergency system were withdrawn. | It was, he said, due to the government's willingness to engage in dialogue after plans to change the public emergency system were withdrawn. |
"Protests started immediately after my resignation in support, but at this moment we are talking about a different situation, a social-political situation that does not necessarily have links to Dr Raed Arafat," he told journalists. | "Protests started immediately after my resignation in support, but at this moment we are talking about a different situation, a social-political situation that does not necessarily have links to Dr Raed Arafat," he told journalists. |
He also called on demonstrators to avoid violence at all costs. | He also called on demonstrators to avoid violence at all costs. |
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