Anti-government protest targets Romanian parliament

Thousands of angry Romanians protested today outside the parliament against salary and pension cuts as the legislature started debating a no-confidence motion in the government.

More than 3,500 public sector workers and retirees blocked traffic and some tried to storm a gate. Protesters threw water at police and briefly scuffled with anti-riot officers. One group set fire to dolls bearing the names of ministers and impaled on poles.