Eight dead, three missing after blast in Greek shipyard

Athens: An explosion at a shipyard near Athens killed at least eight people and left three others missing, according to reports on Friday.

The Ministry of Merchant Marine said rescuers were still searching the ship for the three missing and believed trapped inside the vessel.

The ministry said it had arrested two people for the blast at the Friendship gas tanker late on Thursday.

The deadly blast sparked violent demonstrations by dockworkers over safety standards on Friday.

Workers clashed with riot police outside Greece's Merchant Marine Ministry in a protest at what they say are regular violations of safety procedures at the state-run Perama dockyard west of Athens. They have called a three-day strike.