The police sprayed tear gas at Piraeus, near Athens, on Monday. (Phasma/Reuters)
Greek farmers shut border crossings and blocked roads for a tenth day on Wednesday while aviation officials disrupted international flights, piling pressure on a government struggling to face the economic crisis.
The clashes highlighted growing social unrest in Greece. The center-right government of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis is struggling to restore its credibility after student riots in December. The violence in Greece on Monday follows protests in others parts Europe - most recently in France and Britain - as the global economic crisis bites into jobs and incomes.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting throughout Greece since Jan. 20, blockading the country's main roads and starving the capital of food and medicine as they demand government aid and tax breaks following a harsh winter and a drop in commodity prices.
Watch footage of the December protests while a student organizer discusses the demonstrators' demands:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/12/11/greek_uprising_protests_riots_strikes_enter
See Greek farmers blockade one of the Greek-Bulgarian border crossings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZpiKN8wrXk
for complete articles:
Greek farmers block borders
January 28, 2009
http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2009/01/28/europe/OUKWD-UK-GREECE-PROTESTS.php
Clashes in Greece highlight growing social unrest
February 2, 2009
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/02/europe/02greece-421386.php
Posts
