ANKARA
International Workers' Day - also known as May Day - has been marked worldwide with protests being held in many major cities.
Thousands of Greek protestors and members of public and private sector unions ADEDY and GSEE demonstrated in Athens against government reforms and austerity measures.
In the Austrian capital of Vienna, thousands of protestors including student organizations and public sector and labor unions gathered at the Ring and Rathaus squares to protest against labour market insecurity, tax policies and economic inequality.
In France, two major unions staged separate marches in the capital, Paris, and around the country.
Spending cuts protested
The radical left unions; CGT, FO and FSU rallied between Solidaires, Bastille and Nation squares, against the government's plans to seek €50 billion ($70 billion) in spending cuts to finance tax breaks for businesses, which were approved in parliament this week.
The CFDT, CFTC and Unsa unions, which have given conditional support to the spending cuts, gathered at Stalingrad squares.
Thousands of British protestors, including public and private sector employees, members of unions, students and retirees gathered at Trafalgar square in London.
They were also protesting against spending cuts which have been implemented since 2010.
In Germany's cities of Hamburg, Frankfurt and Bremen, thousands of people celebrated May Day under intense security measures.
Tensions escalate
Meanwhile, a rally by almost 450 extreme right-wingers was held in Dortmund.
Russians gathered at the capital city of Moscow's Red Square to mark May Day - the first time it has been celebrated in the square since the year the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991.
However, in the capital of Belgium, Brussels, thousands of people had fun at concerts in the city's Rouppe Square.
In the Italian capital of Rome May Day was celebrated with concerts in San Giovanni square, but tension escalated in Turin.
Seven people were injured during an affray between the police and a group protesting against the construction of a high-speed train line between Turin and Lyon cities.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
