Protestors Try to Storm Macedonian Government

The attempt occured after the workers were told that the government wouldn't uphold their demands for early state pensions.

After the crowd failed to breach the police barrier, order was quickly restored, local Makfax news agency reports. However the atmosphere remained tense even after the incident was over.

So far no one has been reported injured.

Several hundred people massed outside the government to demand help from state institutions. The protesters are workers from former state-owned companies which faced bankruptcy and closed during the state transition from socialism into capitalism during the 1990s and afterwards.

The workers, mainly in their 50s, complain that their attempts to find other jobs after their companies were closed failed because employers would not hire them over the many younger applicants.

However, their status remains unresolved as they are too young to receive regular pensions from the state.