Strikers clash with police in Macedonia
DeWaarheid.nu - 04.04.2002 18:14
SKOPJE -- Several people were slightly injured in Macedonia on Thursday when more than 3,000 people protesting unemployment clashed briefly with the police.
The protestors, mostly workers who have lost their jobs in Macedonian companies, gathered in front of the parliament and government buildings in central Skopje to demand financial assistance from the authorities.
They were prevented by some 500 anti-riot police from breaking into the state premises, and several protestors were injured in clashes.
Macedonian Union leader, Vanco Muratovski met top Macedonian officials to present the demands.
The government said that if the demands were met, they could lead to the end of the financial assistance to the former Yugoslav state from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
More than 140,000 people have lost their jobs in Macedonia since it gained independence in 1991.
Some 350,000 of Macedonia´s population of two million are unemployed.
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