Violence Erupts During General Strike In Greece

[News_Editor]

Violence erupts during general strike in Greece

2010-12-16 02:34:34 GMT+7 (ICT)

ATHENS, GREECE (BNO NEWS) -- Violence erupted as thousands of people protested in the streets of Athens on Wednesday against austerity measures while a general strike disrupted transportation and other services in the Mediterranean country.

Wednesday's strike was the seventh general strike in Greece so far this year. Transportation was severely disrupted as flights were grounded, ferries kept in ports, and train service was stopped. In addition, government offices and schools were closed, newspapers and journalists stopped laboring and hospitals were open for emergencies only.

Police estimate that some 20,000 people gathered in the streets to join the demonstrations which were peaceful until sunset. A mob began throwing firebombs and pieces of the sidewalk to police officers.

Following this attack, clashes erupted at other sites nearby as hundreds of people fought with police forces near the Greek Parliament. Throughout Athens, clashes left smashed windows from stores, burning garbage dumpsters and thick clouds of smoke after police forces hurled tear gas to disperse the riots.

Local media reported that former Conservative Transport Minister Kostis Hatzidakis was hurt during the clashes when protesters attacked him in front of the Parliament building. The protesters were shouting at him as they threw stones and beat him with sticks until he was brought to safety inside the building.

The austerity measures imposed in Greece include cutting civil servants' salaries, freezing pension and hiking consumer taxes. These initiatives have caused the anger of labor unions which organized a series of strikes and demonstrations.

The last public strike took place last week involving approximately 2,000 transport workers. As a result, the Greek capital city was left without buses, subway, trolleys and the national rail services.

The austerity measures are the latest imposed by the Socialist government in return for a €110 billion ($145 billion) three-year bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Union member states.

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