AP News, May 1st, 2007
RUSSIA: Hundreds of thousands of Russians took to the streets as an array of political forces held marches and rallies on May Day, a holiday that was of great importance in the Soviet era. The largest gathering was a pro-government march and rally in Moscow, estimated by police at 20,000.
TURKEY: Riot police charged into crowds of leftist protesters marking the 30th anniversary of a deadly May Day rally, spraying tear gas and kicking and clubbing fleeing demonstrators. Hundreds were arrested.
GERMANY: Germans demonstrated against right-wing extremism throughout the country. Most protests were peaceful but violence broke out in several places, with rioters setting fire to train tracks, vandalizing streetcars and throwing stones and bottles.
PAKISTAN: Workers demanded better wages, education and health facilities. A local government leader in the city of Karachi insisted at an official rally of 2,000 that the military-dominated government had a good record on worker's rights.
PHILIPPINES: Riot police blocked thousands of protesters who tried to march toward President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's residence to demand higher wages and her removal from office. Separately, about 5,000 leftists massed in a Manila square.
ZIMBABWE: Police banned union-organized celebrations in three key provincial towns, Zimbabwe's main labor federation said. It also accused the state of intimidating organizers in some districts. The ban did not affect smaller government-backed labor groups that held rallies.
