141 anti-austerity protesters arrested in Slovenia police clashDecember 4, 2012 - 20:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Slovenian police have arrested 141 people after clashes with protesters angry over austerity and corruption, the most violent anti-government unrest in the euro zone member state since federal Yugoslavia's bloody break-up in 1991, Reuters reported. The deputy mayor of the provincial city of Maribor warned of "possible anarchy" after the disturbances there and in five other centers including the capital Ljubljana. Only the protests in Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city, turned violent. Protests against graft and austerity measures have rocked the ex-Yugoslav republic that more recently had been the economic star of eastern Europe. Police said on Tuesday, December 4 119 people were arrested in Maribor and another 22 in other towns for "disturbing law and public order". Twenty-five policemen were injured in Maribor. Protesters in Maribor demanded the resignation of Mayor Franc Kangler, who has been accused of corruption. They hurled firecrackers, fireworks and rocks at the riot police. Kangler was expelled from the Slovenian People's Party, a junior partner in Prime Minister Janez Jansa's conservative coalition, in November due to graft allegations, but has so far refused to resign as mayor. Slovenia, which joined the euro zone in 2007, is now struggling to avoid a bailout amid recession, high unemployment and a rising number of bad loans in local banks. The government plans to cut public sector wages, reduce most welfare benefits, raise the retirement age and cut spending on schools and health in order to reduce the budget deficit to some 3 percent of GDP in 2013 from 4.2 percent seen this year. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |