Violence has flared in the German City of Leipzig after left-wing protesters clashed with riot police. They were angered at the presence of about 1,000 neo-Nazis who were marching through the streets for a May Day rally. Scuffles broke out as they tried to block the extreme right-wingers from taking part in the demonstration, which had received court approval. About 2,500 police officers had been called in to keep the rival groups apart.

As things appeared to get out of hand, security forces fired a water-cannon on the protesters. The southern cities of Nuremberg and Frankenthal also saw neo-Nazis marching through their streets. In both instances, they were outnumbered by counter-demonstrators.

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