Belgian students join national anti-austerity strike

Belgian high-school students joined workers on Friday in a fresh national strike against government austerity measures.

The Brussels demonstration was expected to draw thousands of people, with tensions high after student protests inspired partly by demonstrations in France turned violent earlier in the week.

Belgium has seen repeated strikes in recent months against Prime Minister Bart De Wever's plan to save 10 billion euros over the next few years to reduce the country's deficit.

De Wever, a Flemish conservative, is in prolonged talks with coalition partners as he tries to reach a deal on cuts by October 13.

Trade unions want the government to raise taxes on the highest earners instead of making cuts in areas such as health and raising VAT.

Unions expected more protesters because high-school students from Belgium's French-speaking community have been demonstrating against education budget cuts.

Luc Toussaint, a union representative, said conditions were deteriorating and that pupils, like teachers, could see it.

Belgian school students have taken to the streets in recent days in several towns. In Liege, described as the centre of the protests, demonstrations descended into violence, with about 200 arrests and dozens of police officers wounded.