August 11 (SeeNews) - Several hundred Romanians were injured on Friday night in Bucharest while protesting against the government after getting caught in clashes between football fans and the riot police, the local healthcare authorities said.
According to estimations by local media, some 100,000 people gathered in front of the government headquarters to protest against cabinet policies that in their opinion will shield criminals and slow down the fight against corruption.
Their peaceful protest, however, was interrupted by violent clashes between some supporters of the local football teams and the riot police, a SeeNews reporter saw.
In response to aggression from the football fans, the riot police started firing tear gas grenades and water cannons at the entire crowd.
Some 440 people were hurt and needed medical care, but sustained no-life threatening injuries, according to information released by the local healthcare authorities. Another ten riot police officers needed medical care after they were hit by bottles and rocks thrown by the hooligans.
On Friday night, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis condemned in a social media post the 'brutal intervention' of the riot police over the protesters.
The protest was announced in early-July, aiming to bring out in the streets many Romanians who work abroad and are returning home for vacation.
More protests have been called for Saturday and Sunday evening via the social networks.