Sharjah 24 – AFP: Tens of thousands of Austrians rallied this weekend to protest against the government's introduction of compulsory vaccination -- the first EU country to do so -- as the chancellor insisted on Sunday that the move would represent "a minor interference" compared to the alternatives.
One of the largest demonstrations was held in the southern city of Graz, where police said late Saturday that around 25,000 people had gathered in a rally that remained mostly peaceful.
But police said that three men in their early 20s were being investigated for allegedly making Nazi salutes and that there were dozens of infractions against virus-related rules on mask-wearing.
Faced with rapidly rising case numbers, the government introduced a partial lockdown on Monday, although schools have remained open.
Other demonstrations on Saturday took place in the cities of Sankt Poelten and Klagenfurt, attracting around 3,500 and 5,000 people respectively.
Eleven arrests were made in Sankt Poelten, most of them for "aggressive behaviour". One police officer was injured.
The demonstration was organised by the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), whose leader Herbert Kickl has been vocal in opposing anti-virus measures and in pushing unproven treatments for the virus.
The protest in Klagenfurt was addressed by the local head of the FPOe.
Also on Sunday, the finance ministry said that seizures of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin by customs officials had "exploded" in recent months.
Between September and mid-November, 15,844 tablets had been seized, the ministry said.
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