May Day in pictures

A wide range of groups turned out on the streets worldwide to mark this year's May Day holiday, demonstrating that it is no longer just the preserve of organised labour.

The mood in Moscow was more festive and less hostile to the Kremlin than in previous years

But thousands of Russian communists and nationalists made their presence felt as in the past

A street play showing the "toppling" of President Joseph Estrada was part of workers' protests in the Philippines

There were scuffles with police after a rally in the South Korean capital Seoul

In Dresden, German police arrest a man during disturbances at march by the extreme right National Democratic Party.

Clashes followed a march by thousands of left wing demonstrators in Berlin. Demonstrations in Hamburg also turned violent.

Indian sex workers marched through Calcutta demanding legal status and an end to police harassment

Protesters marched in Chicago blocking traffic. At a rally speakers attacked globalisation and demanded better wages.