Brussels - Around 10,000 people in the Belgian capital took part in a demonstration for more buying power on Thursday, in an action accompanied by strikes called by trade unions in Brussels and surrounding areas.

At Leuven station, trade unions handed out dry crispbread, symbolizing it would soon be all people could afford, Flemish radio reported.

Aside from wanting to see their buying power improve, demonstrators also demanded solidarity between employers and government on federal and regional levels. Politicians repeatedly called into the latter point into question amid the language dispute between the Dutch-speaking Flemish and Francophone Walloons.

The number of participants was lower than expected due to heavy rain on Thursday but on Monday, around 20,000 people turned up in sunny weather in the cities of Antwerp and Liege for similar demonstrations. (dpa)