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| Protesters confront Greek police | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Greek riot police have used tear gas to disperse angry protesters in Athens, during a march against government plans to tackle the country's crippling debt. | |
| Clashes erupted at the finance ministry and a state TV truck was petrol bombed. A tense stand-off continues, with protesters hurling bottles and rocks. | |
| Thousands of Greeks are taking part in May Day rallies called by trade unions and left-wing parties. | |
| The EU is demanding the austerity cuts in exchange for a huge bail-out deal. | |
| The rescue package is expected to amount to as much as 120bn euros (£100bn; $160bn) over three years. | |
| The full details of the bail-out are expected to be revealed on Sunday if the Eurozone leaders finally sign off the deal, which is designed to prevent Greece from defaulting on its enormous debt obligations. | |
| 'Unpopular measures' | 'Unpopular measures' |
| The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says that anarchists attacked a state television truck with a petrol bomb close to the city's University. | |
| A prominent hotel has also been vandalised in the central Syntagma square. | |
| There are reports of similar scenes in the northern city of Thessaloniki as youths attacked banks and business premises with iron bars. | |
| There is huge public resistance to the wage cuts, tax rises and pension reductions that are expected to be implemented. | |
| Our correspondent says the unions hope that the rallies will demonstrate to the government, the Eurozone, the IMF and the international markets, that they can mobilise enough "troops" to defeat the new austerity programme. | |
| The value of the euro dropped on Friday after publication of a new poll suggested more than 50% of Greeks would take to the streets to try to stop the government's plans. | The value of the euro dropped on Friday after publication of a new poll suggested more than 50% of Greeks would take to the streets to try to stop the government's plans. |
| Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is expected to announce details of the cuts once the rescue package is approved. | Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is expected to announce details of the cuts once the rescue package is approved. |
| He says the package is essential to save the country and protect its future, and has warned citizens to brace themselves for a period of hardship. | He says the package is essential to save the country and protect its future, and has warned citizens to brace themselves for a period of hardship. |
| He has said he will not weaken despite opposition and the political cost of the unpopular measures. | He has said he will not weaken despite opposition and the political cost of the unpopular measures. |
| Are you in Greece? Have you seen the protests? Do you support them? What do you think of the government's austerity measures? | Are you in Greece? Have you seen the protests? Do you support them? What do you think of the government's austerity measures? |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |