Greece Hit by Strikes, Clashes Over Austerity Plan

Members of Greece's main GSEE trade union hold a mock funeral with a coffin standing for the Greek...

Members of Greece's main GSEE trade union hold a mock funeral with a coffin standing for the Greek economy surrounded by wreaths from Greece's international partners in central Athens on Wednesday, March 10, 2010. GSEE unionists joined with protesting workers laid off from former state carrier Olympic Airlines and have occupied the government's General Accounting Office for the past week. Greek unions are holding a nationwide general strike Thursday to protest public spending cuts aimed to help the country out of a crippling debt crisis. (AP Photo/Marita Pappa)

(AP)

Clashes between riot police and rock-throwing, masked youths broke out during a demonstration Thursday in central Athens by tens of thousands of striking workers protesting austerity measures that the Greek government has said it has no choice but to implement.

The debt-ridden country is under intense pressure from both markets and the European Union to reduce its deficit from 12.7 percent of economic output in 2009 to 8.7 percent this year. Last week, Greece introduced a harsh $6.5 billion austerity package that cut civil servants' wages, froze pensions and raised consumer taxes.

The new cutbacks, added to a previous $15.24 billion austerity plan, sparked a wave of strikes and protests from labor unions whose reaction to the initial measures had been muted. Thursday's 24-hour general strike, the second in about a week, grounded airline flights, halted public transport, suspended news broadcasts and left public hospitals working with emergency staff.

Demonstrators took to the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki, banging drums and chanting slogans such as "no sacrifice for plutocracy," and "real jobs, higher pay." They were joined by uniformed police, coast guard and fire service officers.

"The fight must be constant until the stability pact — these unpopular measures passed by the government — is overturned," said demonstrator Olga Raptou.

An unofficial police estimate put the Athens crowd at about 20,000; organizers said the actual number was much higher.

Clashes broke out soon after the march began, with riot police firing tear gas and stun grenades to disperse masked youths who smashed pavement, marble steps and building facades to use as projectiles to throw at police. Businessmen in suits scurried for cover, their eyes streaming.

About 200 black-clad youths in crash helmets and ski masks fought sporadic street battles with the police through central Athens, smashing shop, bank and hotel windows and bus stops, setting trash bins on fire, and punching and kicking motorcycle police. After the march ended, the violence spread to a nearby square where tear gas sent customers running from open-air cafes.