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Protests Against Police Killing Turn Violent In Skopje

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Protests Against Police Killing Turn Violent In Skopje
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WATCH: Protests Against Police Killing Turn Violent In Skopje

Violent clashes broke out May 5 at a midnight demonstration in the Macedonian capital, Skopje, where at least 1,000 people gathered to protest the 2011 murder of a man beaten by police during postelection celebrations.

At least 19 people were injured, including 15 police officers and a photographer.

Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesters, who chanted "Murderers! Murderers!" and demanded the government's resignation.

Protesters threw objects and broke windows of the government building, crashed cars parked nearby, and torched several containers.

Social Democrat Zoran Zaev, Macedonia's opposition leader, accused Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of attempting to cover up the death of Martin Neskoski, who died celebrating Gruevski's election win.

Zaev released audio recordings in which he said the prime minister and other officials discuss how to cover up the killing.

Government officials called the charges "absurd" and noted that a member of the prime minister's security detail was convicted of the murder and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters

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