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| Greece hit by new general strike over austerity | Greece hit by new general strike over austerity |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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. | 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 between police and demonstrators in Athens has ended. | |
| Syntagma Square has now reopened to traffic; it was quite a small protest as Greek protests go and was mainly peaceful, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens. | |
| Protesters threw petrol bombs and stones at police blocking off parts of the capital's main square before parliament, and police responded with tear gas. | |
| A 65-year-old man suffered a fatal heart attack during the demonstration, which was said not to be linked to the protests. | |
| But local media are reporting that he was tear-gassed, our correspondent says. | |
| Thousands of protesters gathered for rallies ahead of two separate demonstrations in central Athens, amid a heavy police presence. | |
| Other protests were 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. | 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. | 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' | '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. |
| Are you in Greece? Are you taking part in the strike or the protests? Send us your stories and comments using the form below. | Are you in Greece? Are you taking part in the strike or the protests? Send us your stories and comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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