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Greece braces for further choas as unions go on strike
Thousands of Greek union workers marched through central Athens on Wednesday to protest the government's economic policy, as the country grappled with the chaos
- Agencies
- Published: 11:39 December 10, 2008
- Image Credit:
- Youths holding candles and placards stage a peaceful protest in Syntagma Square in central Athens.
Athens: Thousands of Greek union workers marched through central Athens on Wednesday to protest the government's economic policy, as the country grappled with the chaos.
Protesters threw fire bombs at police outside parliament during a general strike which has paralysed Greece.
The rally quickly turned violent, and police fired teargas and protesters responded with stones, bottles and sticks, witnesses said.
"Participation in the strike is total, the country has come to a standstill," said Stathis Anestis, spokesman for the GSEE union federation which called strike, which was planned weeks ago.
The mass rally comes as the country is in the midst of violent riots sparked by the police shooting of a 15-year-old boy recently.
The strike shut down banks and offices and disrupted public transport as well. Airports were forced to suspend operations.
Teachers, journalists and public sector workers were to join the roughly 2.5 million workers represented by the unions.
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis earlier appealed to the unions to cancel a rally planned for central Athens, but they rejected the call.
"We must all have a united stand against illegal actions, to clearly condemn violence, looting and vandalism," he said.
Tuesday night was calmer in Athens after riots continued for three consecutive days since Alexandros Grigoropoulous was killed on Saturday.
Two officers have been charged in relation to his death but final results will determine if he was shot directly or if it was a wayward bullet.
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