Police block marchers on World Habitat Day

More than 1,000 demonstrators from about 50 communities across the country gathered Monday to mark U.N. World Habitat Day and protest against widespread land and housing evictions, but found their march blocked by municipal authorities, who claimed the protesters posed a risk to security.

Beginning the march at around 9 a.m. in the former Dey Krahorm neighborhood—the site of a violent forced eviction in 2009—the protesters, led by a group carrying a large model wooden house, walked to the nearby National Assembly, pausing for around 30 minutes as four representatives delivered a petition to lawmakers inside.

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