Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Striking Protesters Clash with Police in Athens VOA News 11 March 2010 A passenger is seen during a strike at the Athens International Airport Photo: AP A passenger is seen during a strike at the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos in Spata, 11 Mar 2010 Police and protesters in Athens have clashed during a demonstration against the Greek government's efforts to reduce its budget deficit. Some of the several thousand protesters in the capital threw projectiles Thursday, prompting security forces to use tear gas on them. At least one million workers throughout Greece are on a one-day strike, stopping government services, grounding flights, and closing facilities including hospitals and schools. Public transportation has also halted. Greece's two biggest unions called the strike, saying the government's austerity measures will hurt the poor and worsen the country's economic problems. Last week, Athens announced a sales tax increase, cuts in civil servants' salaries, and a freeze on pensions worth a total of $6.5 billion. Greece is struggling to reduce its budget deficit in a financial crisis that has threatened to destabilize the entire European economy. At the start of the year, Greek debt was at 13 percent - more than four times the limit imposed by the European Union. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has traveled to meet the leaders of Germany, France and the U.S. to gain backing for his government's efforts to end the crisis. None of Mr. Papandreou's hosts have announced plans to help Greece. But French President Nicholas Sarkozy said Sunday that eurozone governments are working on specific steps to do so. Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. .