WITTENBERGE, Germany, Aug 24 (AFP) - Protestors angered by the German government's labour market reforms threw eggs at German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder who was on a visit here on Tuesday to mark the re-opening of the eastern town's renovated train station.
Several hundred demonstrators gathered here to voice their anger at the government's labour market and social security reform plans, which include a reduction in benefits for the long-term jobless and therefore a large cut in income for many families, particularly in eastern Germany where unemployment is more than twice as high as in the west.
A number of journalists and a policeman were hit by the eggs, but Schroeder managed to escape unscathed, said government spokesman Thomas Steg.
The rebuilding of the station at a cost of 76 million euros (92 million dollars) was an important government rehabilitation project in the region.
At least 70,000 people took to the streets mainly in eastern Germany in what have become regular Monday demonstrations against the labor market and social security reform plans.
The government says the changes are necessary to revive competitiveness in the eurozone's biggest economy.