Latvia:Thousands of Latvians have rallied to demand the resignation of the government following the suspension of an anti-corruption chief who was investigating donations to the ruling party.
The government of prime minister Aigars Kalvitis has come under growing pressure following his attempt to sack Aleksejs Loskutovs in late September, and from the subsequent resignation or dismissal of four cabinet ministers.
President Valdis Zatlers has also urged the government to step down after this week's vote on the 2008 budget, and he attended a demonstration on Saturday that was one of the largest seen in the Baltic state since it regained independence from Moscow in 1991.
"One president cannot do this alone, we must all do this together," he said, urging Latvians to remain calm as many protesters called on him to dissolve parliament.
"Everything has to happen in accordance with the constitution," he said.
"We should not play with democracy."
Mr Kalvitis drew sharp criticism from the United States and some erstwhile domestic supporters for trying to sack Mr Loskutovs, who is credited with leading an anti-corruption drive that has snared dozens of powerful officials and businessmen.
"Will Latvia, safe in the European Union and Nato, decide that it has done the hard work, and let the state become the playground of a few individuals, where they go to line their own pockets and those of their friends?" US ambassador to Latvia Catherine Todd Bailey said in a recent speech.
The mounting pressure prompted the government to withdraw a Bill that would have led to a parliamentary vote on the dismissal of Mr Loskutovs, who was accused of financial irregularities while reportedly investigating close allies of the prime minister.
Mr Kalvitis' cabinet has lost its foreign, economy, welfare and regional affairs ministers in the last six weeks.
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