Around 7,000 protest anti-crisis measures in Lithuanian capital

VILNIUS, January 16 (RIA Novosti) - Some 7,000 people took part in a protest against government anti-crisis policies in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius on Friday, national media said.

The trade union-organized rally was held in front of the Lithuanian parliament and government offices.

Some 400 police officers were deployed to the protests. Local authorities were concerned that the rally would see violence similar to that which hit protests in the neighboring Baltic state of Latvia on January 13, where more than 40 people were injured in clashes with riot police.

Protesters were demonstrating against anti-crisis policies that have led to tax increases and public spending cuts, and demanded that government officials show solidarity with the people by decreasing their own salaries.

Police were forced to use tear gas at one point as the crowd tried to force its way into parliament. However, there were no injuries and the crowd has now dispersed.