- NEW: Police respond with tear gas after some protesters throw petrol bombs
- This is the first general strike since Greece's coalition government was formed
- The strike was organized by the two biggest unions in the country
- Police say more than 25,000 people gathered for protests in Athens
Are you there? Share your story
(CNN) -- Minor scuffles broke out Wednesday between protesters and police in Athens as thousands of Greeks took to the streets to protest new austerity measures that critics describe as draconian.
The daylong general strike is the first called by unions since Greece's new coalition government was formed in June and comes amid an economic crisis and huge national debt.
Police spokesman Panagiotis Papapetropoulos told CNN that some protesters had thrown Molotov cocktails in Syntagma Square, opposite the Greek parliament building in central Athens. Police responded with tear gas.
"All other parts of Athens are completely calm," he added.
Live footage from the square showed smoke rising from what appeared to be burning tires.
In return for international bailout funds, Greece has agreed to a harsh austerity program and labor market reforms -- measures that have led to violent street demonstrations in the past.
Give Greece more time, says French PM
The Greek government is seeking new ways to implement budget cuts of 11.5 billion euros ($14.49 billion) to ensure the country receives another international bailout installment in October.
The one-day strike was organized by the two biggest unions in the country.
More than 25,000 people had gathered for peaceful protests in Athens by early afternoon, Papapetropoulos said, although the crowds began to disperse a couple of hours later.
As large numbers began to assemble in Athens and other cities Wednesday, Constantine Michalos, president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, said he hoped the strike would not turn violent.
Many people are tired of years of government-imposed belt-tightening measures that have not worked, according to Michalos.
"The Greek people have taken up tremendous sacrifices in this time period, and it just has not delivered the desired results," Michalos said.
"Where we need to concentrate today is not on further austerity measures, because there have been extreme sacrifices made by Greek people in the last three years. What we need to is advance growth and stimulate the economy."
Barroso: Europe federation 'unavoidable'
Parts of central Athens were closed to traffic Wednesday, as protesters took to the streets.
The strike has shut down much of the public transport network, with no metro or electric railway services in operation. Buses and trolleys are operating only from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time.
Many ships are confined to docks, and air traffic controllers held a two-hour strike, causing some disruption to flights.
Schools are closed, and hospitals are operating on skeleton staff.
Greece is in the grip of a years-long recession, and many people are struggling to make ends meet.
While salaries have been cut for many workers, pensions and benefits have been slashed and unemployment rates have soared.
As of May 2012, 53.8% of Greeks aged younger than 25 were unemployed, according to Eurostat, the statistics division of the European Commission.
No comments:
Post a Comment