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21. 07. 09. - 16:00

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21. 07. 09. - 16:00

Nazi mayor said he did not see Swastika

Romanian Times

A Romanian mayor who sparked a storm of protest after attending a fashion show in a Nazi uniform has apologised saying: "I didn't see the swastikas on it."

Radu Mazare, 41, who goose stepped along wearing the WWII German military uniform together with his son said: "I checked it before I put on but the swastika was very small and I didn't see it.

"I really liked the look of the uniform after seeing it in the Tom Cruise film Valkyrie. I bought it from a costume hire shop in Germany."

The Centre for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism in Romania has sent a petition to the country's general prosecutors' office, urging it to investigate the case.

Jewish groups have widely criticised the mayor's bad fashion sense and say is a disgrace that he associates with an organisation that targeted civilians.

But Mazare, mayor of Constanta on the Black Sea coast, said: "All armies kill civilians. Even the Romanian military killed civilians in Afghanistan."

Under Romanian law the use of Nazi or fascist symbols can be punished by up to five years in jail.

Almost half of Romanians live in poverty
Almost half of the Romanians (8.89 millions) are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to Eurostat data published today (Weds).

Police carry man off the snow and save his life
A man who had collapsed in freezing weather near a river, in Stoina, Gorj, southern Romania, was saved after policemen carried him for several kilometres.

New government with same eight former ministers proposed
The Romanian parliament will vote on the new government team, proposed by designated Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, tomorrow (Thurs).

Forty-one dead in freezing weather
Another three persons have died due to low temperatures in the last 24 hours, the Romanian Health Ministry said today (Weds).

EC report on Justice is positive, minister says
Romanian Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu currently acting prime minister until the new government is voted in by the parliament, said today (Weds) that the European Commission's interim report on progress in justice is, overall, "positive".

Pink Martini concerts in Bucharest
American orchestra Pink Martini will give a concert in Bucharest on 26 May at the Palace Hall, part of the promotional tour for their latest album "A Retrospective", local organisers Events said today (Weds).

Romania's industrial output up
Romania's industrial output increased by 15.6 per cent in 2011, the National Statistics Institute (INS) said today (Weds).

Father tried for abusing four-year-old girl
A Romanian father was sent to trial for abusing his stepdaughter, aged only 4, prosecutors said today (Weds).

Pitch in best condition for Steaua-Twente match, authorities say
The pitch for the Europa League match Steaua Bucuresti - Twente Enschede will be in optimal condition, the Bucharest town hall promises, after criticism of the National Arena turf.

More Romanian tourists travel to Austria
The number of Romanian tourists to Austria rose last year, after two years of a decline, Austria's National Tourism Office in Romania announced today (Weds).