October 18, 2012

Youths have clashed with the Athens police force, pelting officers with stones and petrol bombs during an anti-austerity march. More than 40,000 have taken to the streets in Greece in a 24-hour strike against wage and pension cuts.

Anti-austerity activists faced down police officers, throwing Molotov cocktails and rocks in the center of Athens. Police responded by firing teargas and stun grenades into the group of adolescents to disperse them.

Clashes erupted as protesters broke through a police line on central Syntagma Square. After the crowd was dispersed, the demonstration resumed peacefully.

One person died during the protests. A 67-year-old man died, apparently of a heart attack, as he was taking part in the demonstration in Athens.

Authorities have deployed 4,000 extra police throughout the Greek capital to maintain law and order during the protests.

Millions across Greece are participating in a mass 24-hour strike in a bid to convince politicians to let up on the latest round of crippling austerity measures.

In Athens over 25,000 demonstrators took part in anti-austerity rally. In the country`s second largest city, Thessaloniki, some 17,000 marched to protest the cuts.

The strike has led to grounded flights, closed hospitals and the mass shut-down of public services throughout the country.

The Greek government is planning to introduce a new round of belt-tightening cuts, focusing on the public sector for 2013-14. They aim to qualify for a new bailout package of around 31 billion euro ($40 billion) to keep the country afloat for the time being. 

Critics of the 13.8-billion-euro ($17 billion) austerity package have warned that it will cripple struggling businesses that has thus far managed to cope with the financial downturn.

"We can't take it anymore. People are suffering," said protester Dimitris to AFP. "We are fighting to prevent the passage of these measures which would bring us to our knees."

EU leaders gathered in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the unchecked financial crisis, affecting Europe’s Mediterranean countries. Although no significant breakthroughs are expected to be reached during the two-day summit, the Union’s richer nations will rally to support bailout measures.

Flames from a molotov cocktail flare up near Greek riot police at a protest march by Greece's Communist party in central Athens during a 24-hour labour strike October 18, 2012 (Reuters / Yorgos Karahalis)

Flames from a molotov cocktail flare up near Greek riot police at a protest march by Greece's Communist party in central Athens during a 24-hour labour strike October 18, 2012 (Reuters / Yorgos Karahalis)

Flames from a molotov cocktail flare up near Greek riot police at a protest march by Greece's Communist party in central Athens during a 24-hour labour strike October 18, 2012 (Reuters / Yorgos Karahalis)

Greek riot police avoid flames from two molotov cocktails during a protest march by Greece's Communist party in central Anthens during a 24-hour labour strike October 18, 2012 (Reuters / John Kolesidis)

A demonstrator kicks riot police at a protest march by Greece's Communist party in central Athens during a 24-hour labour strike October 18, 2012 (Reuters / Yorgos Karahalis)

A man reacts as riot police and a demonstrator clash behind him at a protest march by Greece's Communist party in central Athens during a 24-hour labour strike October 18, 2012 (Reuters / Yannis Behrakis)

Flames from a molotov cocktail flare up near Greek riot police at a protest march by Greece's Communist party in central Athens during a 24-hour labour strike October 18, 2012 (Reuters / Costas Baltas)

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a 24-hour strike in Athens on October 18, 2012 (AFP Photo / Panagiotis Tzamaros)

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a 24-hour strike in Athens on October 18, 2012 (AFP Photo / Panagiotis Tzamaros)

General view of Greece's Communist party march in central Anthens during a 24-hour labour strike October 18, 2012