Violence erupts on streets of Athens as Greece inches closer to the abyss

June 28, 2011 – ATHENS – Violence has erupted in Athens as a national two-day strike began and the Greek parliament was asked to adopt further austerity measures. Police fired tear gas and stun grenades after clashing with protesters, who hurled bottles, rocks and petrol bombs at the officers. Amid a throng of gas-masked demonstrators, a satellite TV truck was set on fire along with outdoor cafe umbrellas and shop windows were smashed. Reports said hooded youths also ripped up paving stones and set rubbish bins ablaze. The skirmishes came as MPs were asked to help pass tough proposals demanded by the EU and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to receive another bailout. As the national 48-hour strike got under way, up to 20,000 people had earlier marched peacefully through the city. Some 5,000 police were deployed around Athens as demonstrators gathered outside parliament, chanting anti-austerity slogans. Doctors, casino staff, theatre actors and air traffic controllers were just some of the workers who have joined the walkout. The Greek parliament needs to agree to 28bn euros (£25bn) of spending cuts and economic reforms by the end of this month. Only then will European finance ministers give the country 12bn euros (£10.7bn) – the fifth and final installment of the original 110bn euros (£98bn) bailout agreed in May last year. Greece needs the loan to pay next month’s bills and without it, the country will default by July 15. Speaking on Monday, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou urged MPs to fulfill a “patriotic duty” by voting in favor of the new austerity measures. Without the vote, the Prime Minister warns of an unmitigated financial catastrophe across the European Union. –Sky News