Thousands celebrate May Day in Europe

In Greece, where the debt-stricken government has pledged budget cuts to secure a European Union and IMF rescue, protesters burned garbage cans and set a TV van on fire.

Shops were closed and the streets of the capital were unusually empty but for various protest marches heading towards parliament, meters away from the Finance Ministry where EU and IMF officials have been meeting for days to agree a new set of austerity measures.

“No to the IMF’s junta!” protesters chanted, referring to the military dictatorship which ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974.

The aid package is aimed at pulling Greece out of a severe debt crisis, which has hit the euro and shaken markets worldwide, and avoid contagion to other euro zone countries. “Hands off our rights! IMF and EU Commission out!,” the protesters shouted as they marched to parliament. At one rally, police fired tear gas against a group of protesters trying to reach parliament.

The prospect of any further public unrest is of concern to Greek-watchers particularly after a poll released in Athens on Friday showed that more than half of Greeks could take to the streets if the new measures were agreed.

In Germany, a key contributor to the Greek rescue package, violence erupted in Berlin when about 600 militants threw bottles, stones and burning materials at riot police in the Kreuzberg district, police said. Several fires were set and police cars demolished.

German TV said many people were injured on both sides, including one police officer who was seriously hurt.

In France, an estimated 300,000 people had taken to the streets in various cities by midday as part of the traditional May Day demonstrations held by trade unions in many countries. At the forefront of the protesters’ concerns were President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plans to reform the country’s costly pension system as well as general fears over job security due to the financial crisis.

Marchers in Paris shouted “You had to experience the crisis in 2009, are you now going to have to pay for it in 2010?”

In Italy, unions rallied in the southern town of Rosarno, where clashes between African immigrants and locals this year marked the worst racial violence in Italy since World War II.

Addressing thousands of people waving flags and banners, union leaders demanded the government do more to create jobs and protect immigrants at risk of exploitation.

In Russia, a May Day rally gathered thousands of Communist supporters who marched through the streets of Moscow holding red banners and portraits of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

In a separate demonstration, riot police looked on as hundreds of opposition activists protested against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, comparing his rule to that of Stalin’s in a rare rally approved by the authorities.

Anger over Arizona law sparks rallies in uS

Angered by a controversial Arizona immigration law, tens of thousands of protesters -- including 50,000 alone in Los Angeles -- rallied in cities across America demanding that President Barack Obama tackle immigration reform immediately. “I want to thank the governor of Arizona because she’s awakened a sleeping giant,” said labor organizer John Delgado who attended a rally in New York where authorities estimated 6,500 gathered. From Los Angeles to Washington D.C., activists, families, students and even politicians marched, practiced civil disobedience and “came out” about their citizenship status in the name of rights for immigrants, including the estimated 12 million living illegally in the US Police said 50,000 rallied in Los Angeles, where singer Gloria Estefan kicked off a massive downtown march. Estefan spoke in Spanish and English, proclaiming the United States is a nation of immigrants. “We’re good people,” the Cuban-born singer said atop a flatbed truck. “We’ve given a lot to this country. This country has given a lot to us.” Public outcry, particularly among immigrant rights activists, has been building since last week when Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the legislation last week. Supporters say the law is necessary because of the federal government’s failure to secure the border, but critics contend it encourages racial profiling and is unconstitutional. “It’s racist,” said Donna Sanchez, a 22-year-old US citizen living in Chicago whose parents illegally crossed the Mexican border. “I have papers, but I want to help those who don’t.” Organizers estimated about 20,000 gathered at a park on Chicago’s West Side and marched, but police said about 8,000 turned out. The event resembled something between a family festival -- with food vendors pushing carts through the grass -- and a political demonstration with protesters chanting “Si se puede,” Spanish for “Yes we can.” Chicago AP