Police defend actions of riot squad in České Budějovice

The head of the South Bohemian police Radomir Herman has defended the actions of a riot squad which used tear gas against an extremist rally in Ceske Budejovice on Saturday. He said the police had done its duty in keeping the several hundred strong ultra-right protest march from coming close to a gathering of some 200 Romany demonstrators in the Maj housing estate. The police arrested 39 people in the skirmishes. No one has as yet been charged. Tension in the city has been high following an incident at a local playground between the parents of several children.