Witches curse taxman

Romanian witches are planning to curse the country's rulers for taxing them.

Witchcraft has been added to the country's taxable professions, incurring Income tax of 16 per cent and requiring health and pension payments.

Certain witches have reacted badly to this charge, and are planning to unleash curses by hurling Poisonous mandrake plants into the River Danube.

Queen witch Bratara Buzea has also devised a spell involving cat dung and a dead dog.

Alisia, one of a dozen witches planning to bring "evil" on Romania's president - Traian Basescu - and his government with their spells, said her income was so small, taxing it is "foolish".

She said: "The lawmakers don't look at themselves, at how much they make, their tricks. They steal and they come to us asking us to put spells on their enemies.

"We do harm to those who harm us. They want to take the country out of this crisis using us? They should get us out of the crisis because they brought us into it."

Other professions which will now be subject to tax include astrologer, fortune teller, embalmer, car valet and driving instructor.