FAR RIGHT, ANTIFASCISTS HOLD RIVAL PROTESTS IN GERMANY

CHEMNITZ: Supporters and opponents of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s liberal immigration policy held rival demonstrations on Saturday in the city of Chemnitz, where last weekend’s fatal stabbing of a German man by two migrants sparked violent farright protests.

More than 1,200 policemen kept watch over the rallies in the eastern city, where deep divisions over Merkel’s 2015 decision to welcome a million asylumseekers have flared up since the killing of the 35-year-old man six days ago.

Leftist protesters started a march under the slogan ‘Heart instead of Hate’ at 1300 GMT in the centre of Chemnitz, which was known as Karl-marx-stadt under Communist rule in East Germany as a homage to its industrial past.

Hundreds of leftist demonstrators gathered in a main square in the city, where only a few days ago far-right demonstrators clashed with police.

At the other end of town, farright demonstrators gathered near a large bust of the father of Communism before starting a march through the city. Riot police watched from a distance. Merkel, who on Friday wrapped up a three-day visit to Africa, has not yet commented on the events in the city, near the Czech border.

“Where is she? Travelling in Africa,” said a grey-haired man addressing the anti-immigrant crowd. “She should come here and face us citizens.” REUTERS