2 Iceland Police Injured In Clash With Protesters

Protests against the government and the central bank have become regular fixtures in Reykjavik since the currency plunged.

Icelandic police used tear gas against anti-government protesters when a demonstration outside parliament turned violent in the early hours of Thursday.

Protests against the government and the central bank have become regular fixtures in Reykjavik since the currency plunged and the financial system collapsed in October due to billions of dollars of foreign debt incurred by banks.

"There were people by the parliament and, yes, there were riots and the police had to use tear gas," police spokesman Gunnar Sigurdsson said. "It went on for two hours or so. There were no arrests. Some injuries, but not serious. There were a couple of hundred (protesters) when they had to use the gas."

Two policemen were hit by rocks and sent to hospital.

Another demonstration was expected at 1000 GMT, he said.

The protest was the second outside the parliament building, which has become the focus of anger against Prime Minister Geir Haarde's coalition government's handling of the financial crisis.

Demonstrators have called for the prime minister and other senior officials to resign.

Haarde, speaking after his limousine was pelted with eggs and cans by demonstrators on Wednesday, said he still had the support of his Social Democrat coalition partner.