Ukrainian police bulldoze houses, clash with owners

6 Nov, 2007 15:15 / Updated 16 years ago

Ukrainian police have clashed with Crimean Tatars at a popular tourist site near the Black Sea. They were protesting against the demolition of illegal buildings.

More then two dozens Tatars who tried to resist were detained. Tatars have been running small businesses at the hillside attraction for several years, providing tourists with food and entertainment. Authorities say the traders were illegally squatting on the land and were damaging the environment. Earlier, a court had ruled that a restaurant and six other buildings were to be demolished, as they had been put up without permission. The lack of an accurate land registry has led to an increased number of ownership disputes in Crimea.