Protesters have clashed with riot police as a quarter of a million Romanians demonstrated against government plans to free or reduce the sentences of officials jailed for corruption.

For the second night since the passing of PM Sorin Grindeanu's emergency decree, protesters voiced their opposition by shouting "thieves" and calling on the government to resign.

If enforced, the decree would decriminalise offences related to abuse of power in which the sums involved are less than 200,000 lei (£38,000).

Criminal negligence would no longer be an offence and the definition of conflict of interest would be narrowed.

Dozens of politicians from all parties stand to benefit.


Image: A protester walks in front of a burning street sign during an anti-government rally in Bucharest Image: The protesters were demonstrating against controversial decrees to pardon corrupt politicians and decriminalise other offences Image: A Romanian police officer fires in the air during scuffles with protesters. Continue through for more pictures /

Demonstrators in the capital Bucharest hurled bottles, firecrackers and stones at security forces, who responded by firing tear gas.

Several protesters and police officers suffered minor injuries in the violence, largely blamed on football hooligans.

The coalition government has suggested the laws are aimed at easing overcrowding in the country's jails.

But critics of the move - including the European Union - are unconvinced.

"I am outraged," said 46-year-old protester Gabriela State. "The PSD (Social Democrat Party) won the elections but that doesn't mean they can sneakily change the penal code in the middle of the night."

The anger spilled into 55 other towns and cities - including in Timisoara, where protests in 1989 sparked the revolution which toppled the late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

Image: A placard highlighting the year dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was toppled from power

President Klaus Iohannis, who has limited powers and opposed the decriminalisation of various offences relating to official misconduct in office, said: "Today is a day of mourning for the rule of law."

The decree is being challenged by Romania's top judicial watchdog, the Superior Magistrates' Council, at the country's Constitutional court - the last legal resort to stop the law.

On Thursday, Mr Iohannis said he too would ask the court's judges to declare the decree unconstitutional.

In Brussels, European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and his deputy Frans Timmermans issued a joint statement warning: "The fight against corruption needs to be advanced, not undone.

"The Commission warns against backtracking and will look thoroughly at the emergency ordinance ... in this light."

Politicians who will benefit include Social Democrat Party leader Liviu Dragnea, who has a conviction for vote rigging and is currently on trial accused of using his political influence to secure state salaries for two people working at his party headquarters between 2006 and 2013.