Hundreds of youths faced off with riot police in the streets of Brussels on Friday in chaotic scenes on the sidelines of a workers' march, with officers firing water cannon and tear gas at the crowd. Some 30,000 people turned out for the national strike against government austerity measures, police said, with tensions running high after days of student protests inspired by those in France. Police said they deployed water cannon and tear gas after being targeted with sticks and bottles by young people on the edge of the protest, taking place in the city's central tourist district. "Several hundred youths gathered along with the demonstrators", police said in a statement. "The atmosphere gradually became more tense and there were serious disturbances to public order". — Reuters
