Nearly 8,000 Protesters Gathered Outside Romanian Presidential Palace

Nearly 8,000 people, including thousands of police officers and prison guards, have gathered outside the presidential palace in Bucharest round noon Friday, security forces said.

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Protesters started their demonstration at the Government's headquarters but left for the presidential palace, in an unauthorized march, where they threw bottles, candles and police hats and demanded the president come out and solve their claims.

A small delegation of protesters, led by Cartel Alfa union leader Bogdan Hossu, has been invited to talks by state adviser Gabriel Piscociu.

This is the third day of protests against the Government's austerity measures. The Government has slashed public sector wages by 25% in July and plans to fire thousands of public sector workers by the end of the year.

This week's demonstrations are taking place in the absence of Prime Minister Emil Boc, who is in New York City, attending the high-level plenary reunion of the United Nations General Assembly. Boc said he has authorized Labor Minister Ioan Botis to continue talks with union leaders, but argued for "level-headedness," insisting that the Government's austerity program is necessary.

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