Several hundred demonstrators have smashed up police
vehicles and broken office windows in an anti-government
protest that turned into a riot.
The violence, which followed a peaceful protest by thousands
calling for early elections, was some of the worst seen
in Latvia's capital city Riga since the collapse of the
former Soviet Union in 1991.
Following the initial demonstration, hundreds of protestors
marched on parliament.
Some tried to storm the building but were dispersed by
police using tear gas and truncheons.
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Once officers had control of the area around parliament,
a large group of rioters began roaming the city centre,
smashing storefronts and office windows with cobblestones
dug up from the streets.
Windows at the finance ministry and several buildings
were destroyed, and an off-licence was looted.
