BERLIN: The German government on Sunday slammed the “unacceptable” behavior of protesters during a mass rally against coronavirus restrictions in which hundreds were arrested and an attempt was made to storm the Reichstag parliament building. They were narrowly prevented from entering the building by police, who used pepper spray and arrested several people. The Reichstag, where German deputies meet, has a powerful symbolic role in the country. Protesters waved German flags and shouted “Merkel must go!,” a chant often used by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party against Chancellor Angela Merkel. The rally came as coronavirus cases continue to rise in Germany, with daily new infection numbers reaching highs not seen since April.

Source: Manila Times August 30, 2020 12:22 UTC