Major political parties and labor unions in many countries rallied on Thursday to mark the International Labor Day.
In Russia's capital Moscow, some 100,000 people attended the various celebrations sponsored by different political parties and trade unions. Participants, with banners, flags and balloon in hand, went through the downtown areas in a grand march organized by the United Russia party and Moscow federation of labor unions.
Supporters of Russia's Communist Party rallied near the Red Square, singing, dancing, and delivering speeches to call for a better life and better work conditions.
In Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, about 1,000 members of the Social Democratic Party, the major opposition in the country, gathered to mark the Labor Day and protested against the country's inadequate social and economic reforms.
Protesters accused the government of catering to the rich few at the expense of the low and medium income majority.
Supporters of the Communist Party (KSCM) also rallied to protest the controversial plan by the United States to build a radar base in the Czech Republic as part of its anti-missile system in eastern Europe.
Holding anti-war and anti-U.S. banners, participants held concerts and read poems to express their wish for peace.
Meanwhile, soaring food prices remained a concern during the May 1holidays, especially in Africa.
Addressing the Labor Day celebrations, Cote d'Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo on Thursday expressed his concerns over the recent rice price hike in the country, saying that the government has taken necessary measures to control the prices and calling for the people to be united to get through the crisis.
In Germany, rallies turned into violence and raised concerns for security.
Left-wing demonstrators set cars ablaze and hurled bottles at police in the northern port city of Hamburg on Thursday.
The violence followed a rally by some 6,600 left-wing demonstrators who were protesting against a rally by the extreme-right National Democratic Party (NPD) in Hamburg.
Police used water canons to disperse the crowds and arrested several demonstrators.
In the southern city of Nuremberg, left-wing protestors also scuffled with police. Four police officers were injured and six people were arrested.
Source: Xinhua
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