Posted by
James K. Herzberg on Sunday, November 23, 2008 1:20:54 AM
In the capital, Reykjavik, Iceland protest actions of the authorities
to combat the economic crisis culminated in clashes. At least five
people were injured.
Several hundred protesters gathered
outside the main city police station demanding the release of one
detainee at a previous demonstration.
The clashes began when police used pepper spray and batons after some tried to storm the building.
Demonstrators zabrasyvali police station with stones and eggs, smashed windows and tried to storm inside.
Men, whose release they were seeking was released after being paid a fine.
Group of protesters went to the parliament building to demand the resignation of the government.
In debt
Iceland - one of the first countries in Europe, where financial crisis has given strictly to know about yourself.
Over the past year, Icelandic krona has lost almost half its value. In
October, Icelandic authorities have been forced to accept
nationalization of the three largest banks in the country because they
are no longer able to pay themselves huge loans made to the development
of business abroad.
In the 1990's Icelandic financial
institutions to invest abroad, the amount is several times higher than
the GDP of the country, but with the onset of the crisis were on the
verge of bankruptcy.
Iceland, with a population of only 300
thousand people, became the first western country that has received
credit International Monetary Fund since 1976.
To stay afloat, the Government has borrowed from the IMF and the four countries in Northern Europe 4,6 billion dollars.
In Reykjavik has passed a series of protests demanding the resignation
of the country's leadership, people who blames economic troubles.