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Greek Police Clash With Protestors as Strike Begins

   VOA News  February 23, 2011
   Protesters march in front of the parliament during a 24-hour strike in
   Athens, February 23, 2011

Photo: Reuters

   Protesters march in front of the parliament during a 24-hour strike in
   Athens, February 23, 2011

   Greek  riot  police fired tear gas at rock throwing protesters, at the
   start of a general strike in the capital, Athens, on Wednesday.
   Two   major  Greek  unions  representing  public  and  private  sector
   employees  are  striking  in response to continuing austerity measures
   imposed by Prime Minister George Papandreou.
   The  strike  called  by  Greece's  largest  umbrella  trade union, the
   General  Confederation  of Employees of Greece, and the biggest public
   sector union Adedy is impacting air travel, and public transit as well
   as  hospitals  and  schools. Greece's journalists union and many small
   shop owners are also honoring the strike.
   The  unions  are  upset  over  cuts  Papandreou  imposed  last year in
   exchange  for  a  $150 billion bailout from the International Monetary
   Fund and European countries.
   The  IMF  has  been pressuring Greece to speed up its reforms to avoid
   missing its economic goals.

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