In Pictures: Rage in Athens

Greek protesters take to the streets of Athens after government passed austerity measures.

Greek protests

Since May, Greeks have protested austerity measures proposed by the government of prime minister George Papandreou. At times the protests have turned violent as demonstrators clashed with riot police outside the country’s parliament near central Athens’ Syntagma (Constitution) square. On June 29, amid a two-day national strike against the legislation, parliament passed the $40bn austerity package of additional tax increases, spending cuts and privatisations that enraged protesters and turned central Athens into a battleground, where demonstrators clashed with police.

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1) A protester throws a stone at riot police during clashes on June 29 [Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/AFP]

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2) Greek prime minister George Papandreou addresses lawmakers on June 29 after voting in parliament passed a the austerity package amid angry street protests [AFP] 


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3) Demonstrators carrying banners march towards the Greek parliament in Athens during mass protests on June 29, the second day of a 48-hour general strike against proposed austerity measures [Orestis Panagiotou/EPA]

 

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4) Police advance towards protesters at Syntagma square in front of the Greek parliament on June 29 [Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP]


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5) Protestors try to flee tear gas during clashes with riot police on June 29 [Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP]

 

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6) A fire rages in Athens’ central post office at Syntagma square on June 29, during massive clashes between demonstrators and police [Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP]

 

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7) A worker removes a smashed window from a McDonald’s fast food restaurant in Syntagma square in central Athens on June 30 [Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP]


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8) A woman looks at clashes between protesters and riot police from a hotel balcony during a 48-hour general strike in Athens on June 29 [Aris Messinis/AFP]


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9) Riot police enter Syntagma square during a 48-hour general strike in Athens on June 29 [Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP]


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10) A demonstrator is detained by riot police during anti-austerity protests in Athens on June 29 [John Kolesidis/Reuters]


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11) A protester chases a policeman with a wooden stick during protests around Syntagma square in Athens on June 29 [Yiorgos Karahalis/Reuters]


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12) Red cross employees rush to assist wounded protesters during a 48-hour general strike in Athens on June 29 [Aris Messinis/AFP]


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13) A gallows is held up by a protester in front of the Greek parliament in Athens [Arno Burgi/EPA]

 

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14) People from the Communist union PAME protest on the Acropolis hill on June 27 [Pantelis Saitas/EPA]


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15) A demonstrator attempts to break a window displaying an image of an ancient greek galley during protests against austerity measures in Athens on June 28 [Yiorgos Karahalis/Reuters]


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16) Smoke rises from the Greek ministry of finance as protesters clash with riot police near the Greek parliament on June 29 [Alkis Konstantinidis/AFP]


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17) A woman from Athens, her face covered with powder and grease to ease pain caused by tear gas, leaves the scene of protests at the Greek parliament on June 28 [Arno Burgi/EPA]

 

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18) A riot police officer throws tear gas at protesters during protests in front of the Greek parliament on June 29 [Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP]


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19) A protestor throws back a tear gas canister at riot police during protests in front of the Greek parliament on June 29 [Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP]


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20) A flight information board is seen with all flights cancelled at Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos airport, during a strike by air traffic controllers opposing government’s plans for a new austerity package on June 28 [John Kolesidis/Reuters]


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21) A protester wearing a gas mask walks beside a burning van during protests against austerity measures in Athens on June 28 [Yannis Behrakis/Reuters]


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22) A protester rests during a 48-hour general strike in Athens on June 29 [Aris Messinis/AFP]

Source: News Agencies