Pensioners demand President Basescu's resignation in protests marked by incidents

Representatives of the organisations of pensioners in Romania took to the streets across the country on Wednesday morning to protest a Government decision to cut pensions by 15% as part of a larger set of measures to tackle the economic crisis. Some 500 pensioners gathered before the Presidential Palace in Bucharest on Wednesday morning, according to Romanian news agency Mediafax. The protest was marked by hustles between protesters and the police.

According to Agerpres news agency, representatives of the pensioners may be received for talks with the head of state on Wednesday.

Protesters were calling for the resignation of President Traian Basescu, who last week presented a major set of measures agreed with the IMF to tackle the financial problems Romania is facing. These measures included cuts in the already very law pensions of most Romanians.

Pensioners were also demonstrating or were involved in official moves in the cities across Romania, including Galati, Ploiesti, Iasi, Timisoara, Satu Mare, Oradea, Targu Mures, Zalau, Sibiu.