SOFIA, Bulgaria: Hundreds of protesters clashed with the police, smashed windows and damaged cars in the Bulgarian capital Wednesday when a rally against corruption and slow reforms in the face of economic crisis turned into a riot. The violence broke out during a peaceful protest in front of Parliament of more than 2,000 people, including students, farmers and green activists, who said they were fed up with life in the European Union's poorest and most corrupt nation. The riot in Sofia was the worst since 1997, when mass rallies and strikes toppled the then Socialist government for pushing the Balkan country into an economic meltdown. Organizers plan more protests in Sofia on Thursday. On Wednesday, protesters demanded that the Socialist-led government step down for its failure to tackle widespread graft and crime and speed up delayed economic reforms that are supposed to shore up the country from the global slowdown.
SOFIA, Bulgaria: Hundreds of protesters clashed with the police, smashed windows and damaged cars in the Bulgarian capital Wednesday when a rally against corruption and slow reforms in the face of economic crisis turned into a riot.
The violence broke out during a peaceful protest in front of Parliament of more than 2,000 people, including students, farmers and green activists, who said they were fed up with life in the European Union's poorest and most corrupt nation.
The riot in Sofia was the worst since 1997, when mass rallies and strikes toppled the then Socialist government for pushing the Balkan country into an economic meltdown. Organizers plan more protests in Sofia on Thursday.
On Wednesday, protesters demanded that the Socialist-led government step down for its failure to tackle widespread graft and crime and speed up delayed economic reforms that are supposed to shore up the country from the global slowdown.
