SLOVAK Roma are threatening to block highways unless the cabinet releases from custody those Roma who were arrested during shop looting last week. Roma have also demanded that the cabinet withdraw police from the areas of major unrest.
But the cabinet has refused to meet the demands, as it insists that those who commit crimes must be punished. During the unrest last week, police charged about 200 Roma and proposed that 128 be taken into custody, the Slovak daily Pravda wrote.
President Rudolf Schuster said he stands behind the Roma, and has appealed to Interior Minister Vladimír Palko to release Roma mothers from custody.
Compiled by Martina Pisárová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
