World

Greek Protests Start Up Again After Lull During Storm

by Rob Walker | December 12, 2008 at 11:31 am

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Protests continued all across Greece today, marking a full week of riots and violence. While there was a lull in the violence as severe rain and flooding hit the country, youths threw firebombs and stones at police before a large rally at the Greek parliament.

Riot police on Friday briefly clashed with youths on the margins of a peaceful Athens street march over the fatal weekend shooting of a 15-year-old student by police, as protests over his death continued in the Greek capital and Thessaloniki for a seventh straight day.
After one of the calmest nights since the death of Alexis Grigoropoulos last Saturday triggered nationwide riots, police stormed about 100 youths on the sidelines of a demonstration.

The youths had thrown firebombs and stones at police who fired back tear gas before the protest rally started a march toward the Greek parliament.

Two people were killed in thunderstorms that swept Greece last night, stopping the protesters in their tracks. There were no reports of riots during the night, however there were scattered groups throwing rocks at riot police and a few other incidents.

Thunderstorms that swept across Greece last night have killed two people, while the country is recovering from days of nationwide riots.

Riots across Greece, triggered by the fatal shooting of a teenager by police but fueled by deep nationwide anger over economic hardship, have shaken the conservative government.