Germany to vote on Greek bailout after fresh clashes
Dozens of black-clad protesters clash with Greek riot police in the first occurrence of anti-government sentiment since the leftist Syriza party took power a month ago.
Around 50 anti-establishment protesters wearing hoods hurled petrol bombs and stones at police in Athens‘ central Exarchia district, a Bohemian quarter known as a haunt for artists and left-wing intellectuals.
Read Paul Mason's blog: Greeks pledge reforms to secure new euro bailout
This followed a far-left protest in which around 450 people demonstrated against the newly elected left-right coalition government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, which agreed a deal with EU partners last week to extend an aid programme to Athens.
The deal has triggered dissent within Tsipras’ own party and accusations by some on the hard left that the government is going back on pre-election promises, including to end a much-hated 240bn euro (£174bn) EU and IMF bailout programme.
The hooded protesters hurled petrol bombs and stones at police, and a small number of shop windows and bus stops were also smashed or damaged during the violence.
The incidents, albeit on a small scale, mark the first public disorder against the leftist government, which was elected on January 25 on a promise to write off a chunk of the country’s debt and end painful austerity which has helped push one in four Greeks out of work.
