Clashes break out at Greek protests, amid strikes against financial austerity

Clashes as Greeks protest crisis measures

ATHENS, Greece — Police fired tear gas and clashed with demonstrators in central Athens on Wednesday as violence broke out after a large protest march against government austerity measures intended to fix the country’s debt crisis.

Riot police confronted scores of violent protesters who hurled rocks, red paint and plastic bottles near parliament, in sporadic clashes that caused little initial damage.

Police detained at least two protesters.

Earlier, more than 30,000 people took part in a peaceful march, as unions staged held a general strike which grounded flights, shut schools and crippled public services in a show of strength against the government.

The 24-hour walkout comes as Greece is considering tougher austerity measures, including possible deeper salary cuts and extensive reforms of the civil service and pensions system, to pull the debt-ridden country out of financial crisis.

Officials from the European Union and International Monetary Fund are in Athens for an inspection of Greek public finances, ahead of a March 16 deadline from the EU to show signs of fiscal improvement or face imposed additional austerity measures.