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15 December 2010 Last updated at 17:46 GMT

Clashes as Greece gripped by fresh strike

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Protesters threw petrol bombs and police responded with tear
gas
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Greek police have clashed with protesters in the capital
Athens as unions stage a general strike against government
austerity measures.

Demonstrators threw petrol bombs and police responded with


tear gas as the violence flared outside parliament.

A former minister was chased and beaten by a mob and forced


to seek shelter in a building.

The day of action has grounded flights, disrupted public


transport and closed schools across the country.

It is the seventh general strike this year following tough


reforms needed to receive a 110bn euro (£84bn) bail-out from
international organisations.

Police said about 15,000 people were taking part in marches in


Athens.

Protesters started fires around luxury hotels in Syntagma


Square, outside parliament, and cars were set ablaze. Riot
police fired several rounds of tear gas in response.

The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says the scenes are


some of the ugliest in a year of protests marking the country's
economic crisis.

He says a lynch mob atmosphere developed as former


conservative minister Kostis Hatzidakis emerged from
parliament and was chased by dozens of protesters.
The opposition MP was pictured surrounded by a mob and
with blood pouring from a head wound. Mr Hatzidakis's office
said he was unable to reach hospital because of the crowds.

Witnesses said demonstrators shouted at him: "Thieves!


Shame on you!"

Police said at least 10 people had been detained and three had
been injur
Roads jammed
With public transport at a standstill, major roads connecting
the centre of Athens were jammed as motorists struggled to
get to and from work.

Journalists were also on strike, affecting news bulletins on TV


and radio.

Teacher Anastasia Antonopoulou, 50, travelled from the


Ionian island of Zakynthos to join thousands marching
through Athens on Wednesday.

"I can't sit on the sofa and watch my country go down. I'm
here to shout and struggle," she said.

"Many of my students' parents are jobless."

On Tuesday, the Greek parliament voted through key


economic reforms stipulated by the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and European Union, which are funding the bail-
out.

The new legislation will cap the salaries of workers in state-


run companies such as the public transport networks.

In the private sector, employers will no longer have to abide


by union-negotiated agreements and can set their own wages.

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Prime Minister George Papandreou said the measures were
designed to keep struggling companies afloat.

But union leaders have condemned the moves.

"We need to send the government a message that we will not


accept measures that lead us only to poverty and
unemployment," Ilias Iliopoulos, general secretary at the civil
servants' union Adedy, told Reuters news agency.

Our correspondent says opposition groups are angry with the


government for taking just 10 hours to debate such major
changes to employment law.

However, as a result Greece is now more likely to receive its


fourth instalment of financial aid due in the New Year, he
adds.

Wednesday's strike is part of a European day of action against


economic reforms.

Workers have been rallying against austerity measures in


countries including Spain and Belgium, ahead of a summit of
EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

Are you in Greece? Are you taking part in the general


strike? Send us your comments using the form below. You
can also send us your pictures and video by following the
instructions below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text
them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If
you have a large file you can upload here.

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