A supporter of the leftist opposition covers his wound after being hit by a rock during a protest over the national budget, in Skopje, Macedonia, on Monday, Dec 24, 2012. About 3,000 demonstrators in two opposing groups Monday threw eggs, stones, sticks and fruit at each other, injuring at least one person. Police were trying to prevent opposition supporters from entering Parliament. (AP Photo/Vangel Tanurovski)
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A supporter of the leftist opposition covers his wound after being hit by a rock during a protest over the national budget, in Skopje, Macedonia, on Monday, Dec 24, 2012. About 3,000 demonstrators in two opposing groups Monday threw eggs, stones, sticks and fruit at each other, injuring at least one person. Police were trying to prevent opposition supporters from entering Parliament. (AP Photo/Vangel Tanurovski)
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Police shield themselves from eggs thrown by protestors as they stand between supporters and opponents of the conservative government during a Parliamentary debate on the budget in Skopje, Macedonia, on Monday, Dec 24, 2012. Some 3,000 demonstrators in two opposing groups Monday threw eggs, stones, sticks and fruit at each other, injuring at least one person. Police were trying to prevent opposition supporters from entering Parliament. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
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Police clash with the supporters of the conservative government during a protest over the national budget, in Skopje, Macedonia, Monday, Dec 24, 2012. Macedonian police tried to prevent rival groups of protesters from attacking each other outside Parliament over the conservative government's national budget, which the left-wing opposition is criticizing as wasteful at a time when many in the country are struggling to make ends meet. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
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Lawmakers of the leftist's opposition block the rostrum to protest during a session on the national budget at the Parliament, in Skopje, Macedonia, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. The Social Democrat-led opposition accuses the government of planning spending for grandiose monuments, expensive cars and furniture, and demands the euro 2.7 billion ($3.6 billion) draft budget be trimmed by more than euro 200 million. In an emergency meeting Sunday, the government agreed to cut euro 3 million. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
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Riot police block supporters of the leftist's opposition during a demonstration over the national budget, in Skopje, Macedonia, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Some 3,000 demonstrators in two opposing groups Monday threw eggs, stones, sticks and fruit at each other, injuring at least one person. Police were trying to prevent opposition supporters from entering Parliament. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
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The police clash with the supporters of the conservative government during a protest over the national budget, in Skopje, Macedonia, on Monday, Dec 24, 2012. More than 3,000 of the leftist's opposition and the conservative government supporters, split in two groups and protested against each other in downtown of the Macedonian capital to pressure the parliament over the national budget. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
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The police create a cordon between the supporters of the conservative government, left and the supporters of the opposition, right, who are protesting "pro" and "against " the national budget, in Skopje, Macedonia, on Monday, Dec 24, 2012. More than 3,000 of the leftist's opposition and the conservative government, split in two groups, gathered Monday in downtown of the Macedonian capital to make pressure on the parliament over the national budget. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Macedonia approves budget amid violence
SKOPJE, Macedonia (
AP) — Macedonia's parliament approved the 2013 budget late Monday, amid clashes outside the building between rival groups of protesters that left 11 police officers and at least three opposition lawmakers injured, police and party officials said.
Lawmakers voted 65-4 in favor of the €2.7 billion ($3.6 billion) draft budget in the Christmas Eve vote, as riot police were need to separate pro- and anti-government protesters, who hurled rocks and eggs at each other. Three protesters were detained for questioning, police said.
Other deputies were absent for the vote in the 123-seat parliament. Reporters were also ordered to leave the building before the vote. The budget must be adopted by year-end.
The Social Democrat-led opposition argued the conservative government was spending too much on grandiose monuments, as well as expensive cars and furniture for state officials. The opposition had demanded that spending be trimmed by more than €200 million ($264.5 million). In an emergency meeting Sunday, the government agreed to cut just €3 million ($4 million).
Social Democrat leader Branko Crvenkovski, a former president of Macedonia, announced his party would boycott parliamentary proceedings indefinitely.
He urged his supporters to join a campaign of "civil disobedience" aimed at toppling Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's conservatives.
Crvenkovski argued that the budget was wasteful at a time when many in the country are struggling to make ends meet.
But in a televised address late Monday, Gruevski accused his opponents of staging a "violent attempt to overthrow democratic institutions and the legitimately elected government."
He added: "The budget is just being used as a pretext for a battle by (Crvenkovski) for his own political survival."
The U.S. Embassy expressed "concern and disappointment" at the clashes in front of parliament and urged the country's two main parties to try to ease tension.
"The peaceful expression of different opinions is the foundation of a strong and democratic nation, and the use of violence by any parties involved undermines that system and damages its ability to govern responsibly," an embassy statement said.
"The United States urges the leaders of all political parties and their supporters to put an end to these confrontations without delay."
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