At least 55 people hurt as showdown in Bulgaria takes violent turn

SOFIA, Bulgaria, September 3 ------ Anti-riot police guarding the Bulgarian parliament weathered smokebombs, firecrackers and stones on Wednesday as the latest in two months of anti-government protests took a violent turn, with at least 55 people hurt and nearly 100 arrested. The rally outside parliament came during a long, tense day in which a controversial draft for a new constitution was proposed in a bid to end the protests that call for the prime minister to resign for alleged corruption and protecting oligarchs.

Organizers who insist the rallies are supposed to be peaceful said they did not know who threw the projectiles in what was the most violent day yet, one in which hospital officials reported 37 police officers and 18 other people were hurt, including several journalists. Police said they arrested 60 people in the evening clashes, bringing the total to 95 arrests. They added some of them were extremists known as football ultras and said the protesters must have been aware of their presence.

Over 100 smoke bombs and firecrakers as well as stones, bottles and other objects flew at police surrounding the parliament building after 9:30 pm. Police with shields stormed the protesters and cleared a large perimeter of the square. Security forces brought in a water cannon and warned that it would be used unless protesters dispersed. Television footage showed several people being dragged and detained by police as officers attended to injured colleagues during the evening protests.

Demonstrators have been blocking roads and staging daily protests in the capital Sofia and other cities for close to two months, pressing for the resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev over their perceived links with behind-the-scenes oligarchs. Borisov has already sacked several key ministers and recently proposed adopting a new constitution, but the protesters have dismissed these moves. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of central Sofia from early Wednesday, shouting "Resign" and "Mafia" as parliament met to start discussing a project for a new constitution aimed at quelling weeks of anti-government rallies. Protesters threw paving stones, eggs, apples and tomatoes at police at several points earlier during the day.

Source: philstar.com