Tensions at Sofia Rally Escalate, Clashes with Police Erupt

Politics » DOMESTIC | November 12, 2013, Tuesday // 11:51
Tensions at Sofia Rally Escalate, Clashes with Police Erupt: Tensions at Sofia Rally Escalate, Clashes with Police Erupt Riot police at an antigovernment rally in the Bulgarian capital Sofia have arrested several persons already. Photo Facebook

Clashes with riot police are reported Tuesday as hundreds of Bulgarian university students are participating in the "occupation" of the building of the country's Parliament.

As announced earlier, they began to gather on the adjacent square at 10:30 am. In addition to students, citizens are joining the rally.

The protesting students have tried to make a human chain at the rear entrance of the Parliament in an attempt to blockade lawmakers inside, which led to clashes with police who are pushing them away with force.

Several persons have already been arrested, while some people are seen lying on the ground to stop police patrol cars, and policemen beating them and dragging them away, the public radio, BNR, reported.

Huge riot police presence is reported with the rear entrance blocked by armored police automobiles leaving a way for Members of the Parliament to exit and preventing the demonstrators from seeing them.

Traffic in downtown Sofia is at standstill.

When announcing their decision to "occupy" the Parliament, Sofia University students said they were coming out of their blockaded school to protest on the street in order for their voice to be heard.

Representatives of the University of Veliko Tarnovo, of Plovdiv universities, of Sofia's New Bulgarian University, the Technical University and the University of Forestry are among the protesters in front of parliament.

Students were adamant they will not allow provocations and only want to be heard. They called again for the resignation of the government.

Some of them explained that the blockade of Sofia University was going to be lifted in the morning of November 13, but others say the decision will be made Tuesday evening.

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Tags: riot police, clashes, Plamen Oresharski, occupation, blockade, protests, Socialist-led government, Sofia University, parliament, arrested

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