Thousands mass in Dresden for anti-migrant rally, counter-protest

Thousands of people massed Monday in the eastern German city of Dresden to mark the first anniversary of the anti-migrant movement PEGIDA, but almost as many came out in counter-protest.

 Carrying placards with images of migrants with a big cross over it, or slogans like "Go Merkel ", PEGIDA supporters gathered in downtown Dresden, the birthplace of the movement, chanting "resistance, resistance!".

 "This has been a year of PEGIDA, a year of demonstrations. We are here. PEGIDA works," said co-founder of the movement Lutz Bachmann to cheers.

 "Politicians insult us, they distort us. We are threatened with murder but we are still here. We will stay on to win, and we will win," he said, claiming that 39,000 supporters had joined in the rally.

 Independent estimates gave a smaller turnout, with local newspaper Saechische Zeitung saying 20,000 were present, while Durchgezaehlt, a university group specialising in rally estimates, said between 15,000 and 20,000 people attended the rally.

 One of them,  Hannelore, reportedly sIaid: "We are here for our children and grandchildren. We are proud to be here and that many people are here. We are glad that people have the courage to speak out."

 "PEGIDA is not a brown-shirt movement. Never," said the protester in her sixties, referring to the Nazis, adding that "Frau Merkel is driving our country against the wall."