Police disperse demonstrators at EU protests

[March 24, 2011]  BRUSSELS (AP) -- Police have used water cannons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators close to the European Union summit.

Thousands of workers are demonstrating against an economic reform package unions say is far too business-friendly. They blocked key roads in central Brussels on Thursday and caused traffic gridlock in the part of the Belgian capital that houses EU institutions.

On a ring road close to the summit site where several marches converged, police used heavy equipment to keep demonstrators from getting closer to the summit.

[Associated Press]

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