Australian cities hit by anti-lockdown protests

Demonstrations have taken place in Australian cities against tight restrictions imposed to tackle a rise in COVID-19 cases.

Thousands gathered in Sydney, with smaller protests held in Melbourne and Brisbane.

People chanted "freedom" as they marched through the centre of Sydney.

Police told the BBC they had made 57 arrests.

The Australian government have re-imposed lockdowns across the country amid a surge in new infections.

The arrival of the highly contagious Delta variant has challenged the country's previous strategy of border closures, quarantine programmes and snap lockdowns which helped keep cases low.

[Source: BBC]