(en/fr)-Protesters, police clash in Bucharest, 59 hurt

By Luiza Ilie

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Anti-government protesters clashed with riot police in the Romanian capital Bucharest at the weekend and 59 people were injured, paramedics said on Monday.

Analysts said the unrest, the worst in the Balkan country for more than a decade, could resume this week but was unlikely to affect the government's austerity programme, one of the protesters' grievances, at this stage.

Romania had until now avoided the type of violent street protests that have shaken Greece and other indebted European states despite state job and wage cuts and a value-added tax hike imposed to maintain a vital IMF-led bailout.

Thousands of people have rallied in several cities across Romania for four days running since Thursday, initially in support of a deputy health minister who quit in protest at a controversial draft healthcare legislation.

In response, the government cancelled the unpopular bill. But the demonstrations persisted and soon evolved into a general expression of discontent with austerity policies and poverty.

"We have never turned down any democratic form of protest, but we are completely dissociating ourselves from the vandalism we have seen last night," Bucharest Mayor Sorin Oprescu told a news conference.

He did not give a financial estimate of the damage - which included smashed windows of several major banks, and shops and cafes, as well as damage to landmark buildings, bus stops and public infrastructure. The leu currency and Bucharest stocks were largely unmoved.

"Compared to the rest of Europe, the protests we have seen here were very small, they are not a proper instrument yet," said Cristian Patrasconiu, a political commentator. "But I do expect them to continue...This is a wave that has yet to break."

Police said they had fined or started criminal investigations against 283 demonstrators involved in Sunday's violence.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Mark Heinrich)


http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE80F0M220120116


Roumanie : Manifestation et répression

Mobilisés via internet et les réseaux sociaux, plusieurs centaines de personnes s’étaient rassemblés hier place de l’Université à Bucarest pour exiger la démission du président et de son gouvernement. Ce dernier est accusé d’être responsable de la baisse du niveau de vie de la population roumaine. Durant tout l’après-midi, encerclés par un fort contingent policier, ils ont scandé des slogans et ont à plusieurs reprises réussi à bloquer le trafic autour de la place avant d’être violemment réprimés par les forces de l’ordre. De violents affrontements ont opposés les manifestants et les policiers au cours desquels au moins dix personnes ont été blessées. Plusieurs manifestants ont reçu des soins après avoir été frappés par les forces de l’ordre, alors que quatre gendarmes ont été blessés par des jets de pierre. 29 personnes ont été interpellées et conduites au commissariat de police. Les autorités ont affirmé qu’elles seront sanctionnées.

http://www.secoursrouge.org/