Protest turns violent as Greece is gripped by unrest and strikes

AN ANTI-AUSTERITY rally in Greece’s capital turned violent as a general strike halted flights, ferries and public transportation, and thousands joined protest marches across the country.

A small group of protesters threw petrol bombs and fired flares at riot police after the marches ended in Athens. Police responded with tear gas.

The clashes broke out after peaceful marches involving around 12,000 people.

Nearby, protesting police officers blocked the entrance to a Finance Ministry building.

The protests occurred as politicians were set to approve another batch of reforms that will impose years more hardship on austerity-weary Greeks.

The new belt-tightening measures that will be imposed beyond the end of Greece’s third bailout next year, including pension cuts and tax hikes.

The left-led coalition government agreed to the cuts as part of a deal with the country’s international creditors to release funds from its bailout.

Public hospitals were functioning with emergency staff only, while public transport was disrupted, leaving many main roads gridlocked in the capital. Intercity trains were not running, and there was no subway service between Athens airport and the city.

Courts were shut while lawyers and notaries public backed away from official duties, and customs and local government offices were closed. Air traffic controllers were holding a four-hour work stoppage in the middle of the day, leading to the rescheduling or cancellation of more than 150 flights.

Unless bailout funds are unlocked, Greece would once more struggle to pay debt repayments.