Romanian Protesters Leave Govt HQ, Start Unauthorized March To Presidential Palace

Unionists had demanded that Basescu come speak to them by noon Friday, saying they would otherwise go picket the presidential palace. Their march toward the presidential palace has not been authorized, but union leaders said they will not give in and are ready to pay fines.

Traffic has been restricted in the capital because of the spontaneous march.

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.

Unionists met Thursday with the labor minister but said talks, although friendly, yielded no concrete results.

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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