As the second day of a general strike paralyzed the country, more than 70,000 peaceful demonstrators flooded downtown Syntagma Square (where parliament is located) to protest against voting on the government’s latest stringent austerity measures planned for today.
There have been clashes between men armed with clubs from the “order service” of the Communist party and around 300 hooded men, who have attacked police forces in the area.
Authorities say one person has died after violent clashes broke out amongst protesters. Parliament deputy speaker Anastasios Kourakis announced the death during a debate on the new bill ahead of a final vote. Media reported the man was struck by a stone after violence broke out between gangs of hooded militant youths and peaceful protesters from PAME (a communist-affiliated labour group) who squared off against each other outside the parliament building. The man was transfered at Evangelismos Hospital in central Athens where he passed away. However, a doctor told reporters that the man was unconscious but had no injuries when he was taken to hospital and attributed his death to tear-gas fired by the police. Police however, denied that tear gas had been used at the time of the incident. Another man was also reported to have sustained serious injuries to his head after falling down steps during the clashes and at least ten injured people received treatment from volunteer first aid workers
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