Financial Times
February 23, 2011
Greek riot police fired teargas at protesters who threw stones and petrol bombs as a demonstration against austerity measures by striking workers erupted in violence.
Police took action as thousands of demonstrators taking part in a 24-hour general strike were leaving Athens’ Syntagma Square, opposite the parliament building. Five protesters were arrested, said police.
The street violence, the first since last December, highlighted fears of renewed social unrest if Greece fails to win better terms for repayment of debt at next month’s European Union summits.
“This is the start of a new round of protests . . . We oppose policies that are driving families and pensioners into poverty, increasing unemployment and delaying a return to growth,” said an official at Adedy, the civil service union.
Trade unions staged 10 one-day general strikes last year as the socialist government adopted austerity measures aimed at averting a sovereign default. All were disrupted by violent incidents, including an arson attack on a bank branch in which three employees died.
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