Riot police using tear gas to disperse protesters. Photo: Octav Ganea/Inquam Photos

Dozens of Romanian protesters were wounded after security forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse anti-corruption demonstrators in Bucharest on Friday night when tens of thousands of people rallied against the ruling Social Democrat Party asking for the resignation of the government.

Over 200 people, both protesters and riot police, needed medical care and 16 people were taken to the hospital.

The rally was deemed the Diaspora Protest and was organized on social media by Romanian expats from various European Union countries.

Over 100,000 people protested in front of the Romanian government. Photo:Octav Ganea/Inquam Photo

Protesters started gathering since Friday morning in Victoriei Square chanting anti-government slogans. Towards the evening, over 100,000 people were demonstrating in front of the government.

Some small clashes took place between groups of protesters and security forces mobilized to defend the government headquarters, but the scuffles intensified towards 11 pm, when a group of football supporters joined the rally.

Ambulance personnel treated at least 200 people wounded during scuffles between protesters and gendarmes. Photo: Octav Ganea/Inquam Photos

Police reported that protesters stole two guns from the security forces. At midnight, after the square was forcefully evacuated by riot police, confrontations continued on adjacent roads and sound grenades could be heard in Central Bucharest.

Photo: Adriana Neagu/Inquam Photos

President Klaus Iohannis condemned on Friday night the disproportionate use of force against protesters and said he will ask Minister of Interior Carmen Dan for explanations.

“In an authentic democracy every citizen has the right to protest, but violence is unacceptable, regardless of political option. I condemn firmly the brutal intervention of the Gendarmerie, strongly disproportional compared to the manifestations of most of the people in Victoriei Square,” he wrote on his Facebook account.

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