The Ghaqda Trade Unions Maltin this morning condemned the insults hurled at the Prime Minister and Nationalist MPs yesterday during the tariffs protests.

Late yesterday, MUT President John Bencini also condemned the insults.

The incidents happened as the crowd gathered at the corner of Republic Street with Palace Square to watch union leaders hand a letter to the MPs, urging them to vote to revoke the new tariffs during a debate in Parliament.

Occasionally some of those present broke out into chants such as 'mafia, mafia' and 'Gonzi purcinell'. They also booed as they heard the swearing-in of new Nationalist MP Peter Micallef on loudspeakers.

While the union leaders entered Parliament to follow the debate from the Strangers' Gallery, Mr Bencini, who had led the protest with GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb, said he went straight home and followed the debate from there because he was "disgusted" at the insults hurled by the demonstrators at the government MPs.

"This is not our style of doing things and this incident marred the otherwise decent and peaceful protest we had on Sunday. I condemn the insults and the language used and the people responsible should be ashamed of themselves," he said when contacted.

The Opposition motion to repeal the tariffs was defeated in a vote at the end of the parliamentary debate.

Asked what the unions' next step would be, Mr Bencini said the politicians had spoken and this should be respected.

On leaving Parliament at the end of the debate, General Workers' Union General Secretary Tony Zarb said the unions had witnessed the betrayal of the people by a government that was insensitive to their needs.

He said the unions would give their official reaction to the parliamentary debate in the coming days.

UNIONS' STATEMENT

The Ghaqda Unions Maltin in a statement this morning said it wanted to unreservedly condemn the insults made by a small section of the crowd against the Prime Minister and some MPs yesterday during the tariffs protest.

The grouping said this group of irresponsible people should not in any way distract from the message conveyed by the many thousands of people who protested over the exaggerated bills in a dignified and civil manner as was their right in a free and democratic society.

The unions thanked the people for their support.

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