19 injured during protest in Macedonian capital

19 injured during protest in Macedonian capital

SKOPJE -- At least 19 people have been injured, among them 15 policemen and one photographer, in the clashes between the police and protesters in Skopje, AFP reported.

The police used tear gas and water canons to disperse a crowd of some 1,000 people who for several hours protested in front of the Macedonian government headquarters after the leader of the most influential opposition party, the SDSM, announced that nearly four years ago, "Martin Neskovski was killed by an on duty police officer."

Zoran Zaev, who last week announced protests that would last until the government resigned, said the authorities "covered up the fact" about the death.

Zaev announced this during a news conference on Tuesday, as "one in a series of bombs" that is part of the "Truth about Macedonia" project, which also deals with the authorities' unlawful wiretapping.

Shortly after, demonstrators started gathering, shouting "killers, killers," and demanding the resignation of PM Nikola Gruevski. They also threw rocks, broke windows on the government building, demolished several police cars and set dumpsters on fire.

At least four persons have been detained by the police, the local TV Nova reported, and added that journalist Zoran Ivanov was lightly injured after the police "beat him."

The police intervened to force the demonstrators out of the government building yard, when half the fence fell down, prompting them the set up a new cordon.

The situation in Skopje was calm on Wednesday morning, but new protests have been called for this evening.