BERLIN, May 1: Millions of people took to the streets across Europe on Thursday as annual May Day rallies mixed traditional labour demands with anti-war and anti-US protests, with violence marring events in Germany, Turkey and other countries.

One million protesters marched throughout Germany, double last year’s number according to trade union estimates, but in Berlin, where at least 65 rallies were planned, trouble led to almost 100 arrests.

Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse about 200 people who pelted them with fireworks and other projectiles during a 6,000-strong peace rally in eastern Berlin.

The main march, organized by the DGB trade union congress, targetted Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s controversial cost-cutting package of social and economic reforms aimed at boosting the flagging German economy, the European Union’s largest.

Banners read: “Berlin needs work, an education, a future.”

In London, scuffles broke out between demonstrators and police after about 300 people staged a sit-down protest outside the London offices of the giant US arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin.—AFP