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Greece hit by new general strike over austerity | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A general strike is under way in Greece in protest against the next round of spending cuts, required in return for another bailout instalment. | |
It is the country's 20th national stoppage since the debt crisis erupted two years ago and comes as EU leaders meet in Brussels. | |
Taxi drivers, ferry workers, doctors, teachers and air traffic controllers are among those taking part. | Taxi drivers, ferry workers, doctors, teachers and air traffic controllers are among those taking part. |
A small stand-off is going on between police and demonstrators in Athens. | |
Protesters have been throwing petrol bombs and stones at police blocking off parts of the capital's main square before parliament, and police have responded with tear gas. | |
Thousands of protesters gathered for rallies ahead of two separate demonstrations in central Athens, under heavy police presence. | |
Other protests are also planned across the country. | |
The strike is taking place as European leaders are in Brussels for a summit in which Greece's economic fate is likely to feature large. | |
Greece is currently preparing a 13.5bn-euro (£11bn; $17.7bn) austerity package to satisfy the "troika" of International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central Bank lenders in return for its next 31.5bn-euro tranche of aid. | |
The country is due to run out of money next month. | The country is due to run out of money next month. |
However, trade union leaders says they hope to show EU leaders that a new wave of wage and pension cuts will only worsen the plight of the Greek people. | However, trade union leaders says they hope to show EU leaders that a new wave of wage and pension cuts will only worsen the plight of the Greek people. |
'Catastrophic measures' | |
Greece is in its fifth consecutive year of recession and more than a quarter of its workforce is unemployed. | Greece is in its fifth consecutive year of recession and more than a quarter of its workforce is unemployed. |
"Just once, the government ought to reject the troika's absurd demands," said Yannis Panagopoulos, head of the GSEE private sector union. | "Just once, the government ought to reject the troika's absurd demands," said Yannis Panagopoulos, head of the GSEE private sector union. |
"Agreeing to catastrophic measures means driving society to despair, and the consequences as well as the protests will then be indefinite," he added. | "Agreeing to catastrophic measures means driving society to despair, and the consequences as well as the protests will then be indefinite," he added. |
The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says cracks are already appearing within the coalition government as party leaders disagree over job losses and other austerity measures. | The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says cracks are already appearing within the coalition government as party leaders disagree over job losses and other austerity measures. |
Anger has led to a loss of faith in the state, he says, with Greeks increasingly turning to political extremes such as the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party. | Anger has led to a loss of faith in the state, he says, with Greeks increasingly turning to political extremes such as the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party. |
Although the Greek government has vowed to stay the course, social unrest could yet prove explosive, our correspondent adds. | Although the Greek government has vowed to stay the course, social unrest could yet prove explosive, our correspondent adds. |