Hundreds of demonstrators have clashed with riot police in Latvia's capital, Riga, after an anti-government protest.You say you want a revolution
Well you know
we all want to change the world
Police used mace and truncheons to disperse rioters who smashed shop windows and overturned a police van after failing to storm parliament.
You tell me that it's evolution
Well you know
The violence followed a peaceful rally in which some 10,000 people accused the government of economic mismanagement and demanded new elections.
Latvia's economy is expected to contract by at least 5% this year. Until last year, it was one of the fastest growing economies in Europe.
Many Latvians frustrated by rising unemployment and tax hikes blame the centre-right governing coalition of Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis for their country's economic woes.
We all want to change the world
Tuesday's peaceful protest was Latvia's largest since it became independent in 1991.
As the crowd swelled, dozens of burly protesters tried to storm the parliament building, and hundreds of demonstrators then hurled rocks and chunks of ice at government buildings.
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
The vandals were dispersed by riot police using mace and truncheons, but they gathered again in a neighbouring street in Riga's historic business district. There, they overturned a police van, smashed windows and looted shops.
"There was a nice event and then when it finished people decided to go and express their anger and destroy the parliament and then it all spread through Old Riga," Anna Gulbe, 19, told the Associated Press news agency.
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright