Teargas, clashes as unions strike over proposed reforms
(29 Jun 2010) SHOTLIST 1. Demonstrators walking up parliament building steps with banners shouting UPSOUND: (Greek) "Thieves" 2. Man trying to jump over wall and enter parliament, protesters clash with police who spray teargas; protester argues with police who try to strike him with shield 3. Pan of demonstrators shouting UPSOUND: (Greek) "Thieves" 4. Low angle shot of riot policeman in front of parliament building 5. Wide of demonstrators clashing with police, hurling projectiles as riot policeman falls and continues firing teargas 6. Wide pan of demonstrators with riot police retreating amid cloud of tear gas 7. Demonstrators throwing projectiles 8. Wide of demonstrators 9. Various demonstrators dressed in black, with faces covered carrying poles and throwing projectiles 10. Wide of demonstrators STORYLINE Minor scuffles broke out between demonstrators and riot police outside the Greek parliament in Athens on Tuesday during rallies against the cash-strapped government's proposed austerity measures. Police fired tear gas at the protesters, one of whom tried in vain to jump over the wall and enter parliament. Meanwhile in downtown Athens, dozens of masked youths clashed with police at a union protest during a general strike against the planned pension and labour reforms. Riot police fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse troublemakers who threw chunks of marble smashed off a metro station entrance and set rubbish bins on fire. No injuries, arrests or major damage to property were immediately reported Tuesday's violence came as some 10-thousand people took part in a demonstration organised by the country's two main labour unions and fringe left-wing groups. A separate march by some 5- to 6-thousand members of the Communist Party-backed PAME (All-Workers Militant Front) union ended peacefully. The strike disrupted public transport and left hospitals operating on emergency staff. Greece is caught in a major debt and deficit crisis. It only avoided bankruptcy last month after receiving the first instalment of a 110 (b) billion euro (136 (b) billion US dollar) emergency loan package from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. In return, Athens passed painful austerity measures, cutting pensions and salaries and raising consumer taxes. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
