May Day around the world

A protester, with cream applied to his face to protect against tear gas, reacts during a May Day demonstration in Istanbul, May 1, 2014.

Turkish police fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber pellets on Thursday to try to stop thousands of people, some armed with fire bombs and fireworks, from defying a ban on May Day rallies and reaching Istanbul's central Taksim square.

Hong Kong, China

Migrant workers from Indonesia carry placards which collectively read "End Slavery" during a Labor Day rally in Hong Kong, May 1, 2014.

Over a thousand protesters gathered for the annual May Day rally in Hong Kong's landmark Victoria Park to walk towards the government headquarters waving colourful flags and placards, while singing a Chinese version of the famous "Do you hear the people sing?" from the musical Les Miserables, calling for better working conditions and better wages.

Istanbul, Turkey

A protester reacts as police fires tear gas during a May Day demonstration in Istanbul, May 1, 2014.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

A man tries to protects himself as security forces beat him during the International Workers' Day rally at Freedom Park in Phnom Penh, May 1, 2014.

Cambodia authorities broke up a protest of garment workers and opposition party supporters on Thursday who rallied to celebrate the International Labor Day despite the government's ban on public assemblies.

Baghdad, Iraq

Supporters of the Iraqi Communist Party chant slogans during an International Worker's Day, or Labor Day, rally in Baghdad, May 1, 2014.

Zagreb, Croatia

People hold up red cards against the government on Radnicka street during a May Day rally in Zagreb, May 1, 2014.

Athens, Greece

Protesters from the Communist-affiliated trade union PAME hold red flags during a May Day rally in Athens, May 1, 2014.

Havana, Cuba

Cuba's President Raul Castro waves next to Revolution Commander Guillermo Garcia and Interior Minister Abelardo Colome during the May Day parade in Havana, May 1, 2014.

Kharkiv, Ukraine

A Communist supporter stands near a police line guarding the regional administration building during a May Day rally in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, May 1, 2014.

Havana, Cuba

Public health workers march through Havana's Revolution Square during the May Day parade, May 1, 2014.

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Protesters march with national flags as they shout slogans during a Labour Day rally in Dhaka, May 1, 2014.

Thousands of activists and garment workers marched through the streets demanding compensation for survivors and families of victims of various disasters in the textile industry, while calling for a safer workplace environment.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Farmers wearing traditional farmer outfits, who are members of the People's Liberation Front opposition party, shout slogans during their May Day rally in Colombo, May 1, 2014.

Malaga, Spain

Workers and union members hold banners and flags of the General Workers Union and Comisiones Obreras at Marques de Larios street during a May Day demonstration on Labor Day in Malaga, southern Spain, May 1, 2014.

The banner reads, "Without quality employment, there is no recovery. More social cohesion for more democracy".

Harz, Germany

Man with a devil make-up looks out of a HSB light railway carriage as he travels through the Harz mountains to celebrate the Walpurgisnacht pagan festival, April 30, 2014.

Legend has it that on Walpurgisnacht or May Eve, witches fly their broomsticks to meet the devil at the summit of the Brocken Mountain in Harz. In towns and villages scattered throughout the mountain region, locals make bonfires, dress in devil or witches costumes and dance into the new month of May.

Jakarta, Indonesia

Indonesian labor activists representing underpaid and downtrodden workers perform during a Labor Day protest, May 1, 2014.

Protesters across Indonesia have organized rallies to demand higher wages, as Indonesia recognizes its first national labor day holiday.

Bellach, Switzerland

Swiss Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga listens to workers during a visit on Labor day in the Fraisa SA in Bellach, May 1, 2014.

Jakarta, Indonesia

Indonesian workers rally in Jakarta to mark May Day, May 1, 2014.

Istanbul, Turkey

A man uses crutches as he walks in front of riot police during a May Day demonstration in Istanbul, May 1, 2014.

Istanbul, Turkey

A protester shoots firecrackers at riot police during a May Day demonstration in Istanbul, May 1, 2014.

Istanbul, Turkey

A riot police officer gestures amidst tear gas during a May Day demonstration in Istanbul, May 1, 2014.

Turkish police fired water cannon and tear gas on Thursday to prevent hundreds of protesters from defying a ban on May Day rallies and reaching Istanbul's central Taksim Square, the focal point of weeks of protests last summer.

Jakarta, Indonesia

Indonesian workers face a line of police during a rally outside the presidential palace in Jakarta to mark May Day, also known as Labor Day, May 1, 2014.

Unions said up to two million workers would be out in force to demand better working conditions in Southeast Asia's most populous nation, although in previous years the numbers have come in much lower than such forecasts.

Harz, Germany

A man in a devil costume arrives at a Walpurgisnacht pagan festival to act as the master of ceremony in the town of Stiege, in the Harz mountain region, April 30, 2014.

Harz, Germany

Women dressed up as witches travel on a HSB light railway through the Harz mountains to celebrate the Walpurgisnacht pagan festival, April 30, 2014.

Melilla, Spain

An African migrant rests on a border fence covered in razor wire during a latest attempt to cross into Spanish territory, between Morocco and Spain's north African enclave of Melilla, May 1, 2014.

Around 400 people stormed the border and at least 150 of them reached European territory, according local authorities.

Manila, Philippines

Protesters surround an effigy of President Benigno Aquino before burning it during a Labor Day protest outside the presidential palace in Manila, May 1, 2014.

Rostock, Germany

German riot police officers face sitting protesters blocking the street during May Day demonstrations in Rostock, May 1, 2014.

Paris, France

Hundreds of supporters of France's far right National Front political party attend the party's annual May Day rally in front of the Opera in Paris, May 1, 2014.

Donetsk, Ukraine

Pro-Russian activists burn uniforms outside the prosecutor's office in Donetsk, May 1, 2014.

Kharkiv, Ukraine

Communist supporters take part in a May Day rally in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, May 1, 2014.

Harz, Germany

A tame fox approaches revellers gathering at the summit of Broken mountain in the Harz regions during celebrations of the Walpurgisnacht pagan festival, April 30, 2014.