May Day Protesters Tear Gassed In Istanbul

Turkish police have fired tear gas at May Day protesters in Istanbul.

Trade unions and other groups are staging rallies around the world to mark International Workers Day - but in several cities ugly scenes ensued.

Water cannon and tear gas were used on demonstrators in the Sisli district of Istanbul, while several people were detained as protesters tried to gather at the city's iconic Taksim Square.

Up to 15,000 police and 120 water cannons were reportedly deployed across Istanbul.

Elsewhere, activists scuffled with police during the May Day protest in front of the US embassy in Manila.

A crowd burned an effigy of Philippine President Benigno Aquino.

In Russia, tens of thousands of people marched across Moscow's Red Square in a pro-Kremlin workers' rally.

In the Taiwanese capital Taipei unions took to the streets to call on the government to reduce working hours and increase wages.

"Hardworking labourers are being exploited by consortiums," said Chen Li-jen, a protester with the Taiwan Petroleum Workers Union.

"For the past decade, our basic salary has not made any progress. Labourers' rights have always been neglected.

"This is why I hope to take advantage of the 1 May Labour Day protest and tell the government that we are determined to fight for our rights."

In France, rival factions of the far-right National Front held rallies.

Several bare-chested feminist activists from Femen protested in front of the venue where the party was holding a banquet.

International Workers Day was started in Chicago in 1886 by a union demanding an eight-hour work day.