ATHENS, Oct 19 (Reuters) – Greek police clashed with
black-clad demonstrators outside parliament on Wednesday during
a mass rally called to protest against a bitterly resented new
round of belt-tightening needed to avert default.

The view of the ancient Acropolis was obscured by smoke from
burning piles of rubbish and a bank building was evacuated after
being set on fire by petrol bombs as a strike called by Greece’s
two main unions degenerated into violence.

ATHENS (Reuters) – Black-clad demonstrators hurled stones and fire bombs at police in front of the Greek parliament on Wednesday as tens of thousands rallied for a nationwide general strike to coincide with a vote on painful new austerity measures.

For the first time since the outbreak of the crisis two years ago, protesters pushed up to the steps of the parliament building itself, setting fire to a sentry box occupied by the ceremonial guards who stand watch over the main symbols of the Greek state.

ATHENS, Oct 5 (Reuters) – Police fired tear gas at
stone-throwing youths in central Athens on Wednesday, where
thousands of striking state sector workers marched against cuts
the government says are needed to save the nation from
bankruptcy.

Youths broke up marble paving slabs and hurled the chunks of
rock at police in full riot gear. The police responded by firing
tear gas grenades, chasing the protesters through the square
into surrounding streets.