Geo World

Greece austerity protests turn violent

ATHENS: POLICE have fired tear gas in running battles with stone-throwing youths in Athens overnight, where a 48-hour general strike is being held against a parliamentary vote on tough austerity measures. Inside parliament, politicians debated new austerity measures which must be passed tomorrow and Friday if Greece's international creditors are to release the next 12 billion euros ($16.49 billion) batch of the country's 110 billion euros ($151.14 billion) bailout and prevent a default that could drag down European banks and shake the European and world economy. But the measures, which include spending cuts and tax hikes on even those on minimum wages, have caused widespread outrage. Unions embarked on a two-day general strike overnight, halting nearly all public transport, forcing airlines to reschedule or cancel dozens of flights and bringing public services to a standstill. A peaceful protest by about 20,000 people quickly degenerated into violence, with riot police firing volleys of tear gas and stun grenades to keep back hooded youths pelting them with thousands of chunks of ripped up paving stones and marble chipped from building facades and steps. Police said 37 policemen were injured during the overnight riots, while 14 protesters were arrested. Emergency services said nine protesters were injured.