Police, anti-austerity protesters clash in Belgian capital

Police have clashed with people protesting in the Belgian capital against the government’s austerity measures for the social and economic sectors.

Belgian police fired water-cannon during clashes with protesters at a huge demonstration in Brussels on Tuesday against the center-right government's austerity measures.

A group of around 100 masked protesters broke away from the main rally of around 60,000 people and started hurling objects at riot police, prompting officers to drive them back with jets of water.

The demonstration was called by several trade unions under the slogan "Our cup runs over.”

The protesters denounced proposed reforms by Employment Minister Kris Peeters, increasing workers' flexibility at work, longer careers before pensions kick in and less pay under tougher conditions. The reforms will also allow employers to impose 45-hour work weeks.

Belgium was brought to a standstill back in November 2014 due to a mass anti-austerity protest and the biggest general industrial action in years that grounded flights, shut ports and cut international rail links.

The Belgian government has come under fire for security lapses in terror attacks claimed by the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group in Paris and Brussels.

EA