Post by pjotr on Feb 20, 2011 11:59:35 GMT 1
Violent clashes as demonstrators halt neo-Nazi rally in Germany
Police use tear gas, water cannons in attempt to control thousands of people protesting neo-Nazi march through Dresden in commemoration of a 1945 allied bombing.
By DPA and Reuters
Demonstrations against a planned neo-Nazi rally in Dresden turned violent on Saturday, but succeeded in blocking right-wing extremist marches to the city centre.
Officers used truncheons, tear gas and water cannons to prevent protesters from breaking into an area reserved for right-wing extremists who had been granted permission to gather in the eastern city.
Thousands of anti-fascist demonstrators breached the barriers and charged into the site, which around 600 neo-Nazis were trying to reach from different parts of Dresden.
Other demonstrators blocked the roads leading to the reserved area at the city's main station.
"The mood among the right-wing extremists is extremely aggressive and heated, because they can't march due to the blockades," said Interior Ministry spokesman Frank Wend.
The atmosphere was also tense between police and leftist demonstrators who threw paving stones, bottles and fireworks at the officers, damaging cars and breaking windows in an office building.
The thwarted neo-Nazi groups then decided to leave Dresden to travel 100 kilometres east and carry out their rally in the city of Leipzig, where police braced themselves for their arrival.
A Dresden court had ruled late Friday that the neo-Nazi rally could go ahead, despite objections by city authorities.
German far-right supporters holding torches march in Dresden.
Photo: Reuters (2005)
The city had expected up to 4,000 right-wing extremists and 20,000 opposing demonstrators.
The previous weekend, around 17,000 residents of Dresden had prevented 1,300 neo-Nazis from marching near the city centre.
Citizens of Dresden formed a human chain agains the Neo-Nazi march
Far-right demonstrators marched through the center of Dresden on Sunday, marking the anniversary of the Allied bombing of the city.
Several hundred neo-Nazis took part in the march. They carried black, white and red flags and placards: "Never Again Bombing Holocaust."
Some of the marchers wore skeleton outfits and carried crosses. The Allied bombing of the city on Feb. 13, 1945 caused a firestorm that destroyed much of the historic city center. Over 25,000 people died.
Around 17,000 people took part in the counter-demonstration. Over 4,600 police officers were deployed to keep the two groups strictly separated.
GermanInterior Minister Thomas de Maizière (c) was in Dresden for the counter-demonstration. Like many other protestors he wore a white rose, to symbolize the name of a group who resisted the Nazi regime.
Police use tear gas, water cannons in attempt to control thousands of people protesting neo-Nazi march through Dresden in commemoration of a 1945 allied bombing.
By DPA and Reuters
Demonstrations against a planned neo-Nazi rally in Dresden turned violent on Saturday, but succeeded in blocking right-wing extremist marches to the city centre.
Officers used truncheons, tear gas and water cannons to prevent protesters from breaking into an area reserved for right-wing extremists who had been granted permission to gather in the eastern city.
Thousands of anti-fascist demonstrators breached the barriers and charged into the site, which around 600 neo-Nazis were trying to reach from different parts of Dresden.
Other demonstrators blocked the roads leading to the reserved area at the city's main station.
"The mood among the right-wing extremists is extremely aggressive and heated, because they can't march due to the blockades," said Interior Ministry spokesman Frank Wend.
The atmosphere was also tense between police and leftist demonstrators who threw paving stones, bottles and fireworks at the officers, damaging cars and breaking windows in an office building.
The thwarted neo-Nazi groups then decided to leave Dresden to travel 100 kilometres east and carry out their rally in the city of Leipzig, where police braced themselves for their arrival.
A Dresden court had ruled late Friday that the neo-Nazi rally could go ahead, despite objections by city authorities.
German far-right supporters holding torches march in Dresden.
Photo: Reuters (2005)
The city had expected up to 4,000 right-wing extremists and 20,000 opposing demonstrators.
The previous weekend, around 17,000 residents of Dresden had prevented 1,300 neo-Nazis from marching near the city centre.
Citizens of Dresden formed a human chain agains the Neo-Nazi march
Far-right demonstrators marched through the center of Dresden on Sunday, marking the anniversary of the Allied bombing of the city.
Several hundred neo-Nazis took part in the march. They carried black, white and red flags and placards: "Never Again Bombing Holocaust."
Some of the marchers wore skeleton outfits and carried crosses. The Allied bombing of the city on Feb. 13, 1945 caused a firestorm that destroyed much of the historic city center. Over 25,000 people died.
Around 17,000 people took part in the counter-demonstration. Over 4,600 police officers were deployed to keep the two groups strictly separated.
GermanInterior Minister Thomas de Maizière (c) was in Dresden for the counter-demonstration. Like many other protestors he wore a white rose, to symbolize the name of a group who resisted the Nazi regime.
