Tens of hunters protested in Valletta this afternoon after the government on Saturday abruptly closed the hunting season following a series of illegalities committed by individuals.

Some 100 hunters gathered at City Gate and the number doubled as they marched down Republic Street, stopping in front of the Labour Party club to shout insults at the “Taghna Lkoll” party, saying that they will no longer be voting Labour.

Some hunters said that their support for Joseph Muscat “died yesterday” when the government announced the early closure of the hunting season.

The protest was monitored by a large group of policemen. No permit was issued for such a protest to be held, police sources said.

The hunters carried placards saying that "autumn hunting is (allowed) worldwide" and that hunters are treated worse than criminals.

The hunters walked up to the courts of law and turned back, going to Castille Place to continue their protests outside the Office of the Prime Minister.

Some of them were seen pulling out flowers from the roundabout at Castille.

Two journalists were assaulted by a group of hunters until the police intervened to calm the situation.

The hunters then walked back to City Gate where the protest disbanded.

Birdwatchers later reported that while they were in Buskett a group of hunters threw stones in their direction, forcing them to leave the area. It has also been reported that a camera was stolen.

The Nationalist Party condemned the attack on journalists, saying that what happened today was a result of the Labour Party's promises which it could not fulfil.

Alternattiva Demokratika and the Insitute of Journalists also condemned the incidents.