Riots in Greece

The streets of Athens look like a war zone, with the worst violence to hit the country since riots in 2008.  Greeks protesting government austerity measures threw petrol bombs at a bank branch in Athens, killing three people including a pregnant woman.

 

A riot policeman falls after being hit with a molotov cocktail in Athens during a nationwide strike by civil servants protesting the announcement of draconian austeristy measures. May 5, 2010  (REUTERS/John Kolesidis)

A woman is evacuated from the Marfin Bank building that was fire-bombed in Athens. May 5, 2010. (Tomasz Grzyb/AFP/Getty Images)

A shocked woman is evacuated from the burning Marfin Bank branch in Athens. Athens police chiefs mobilized all their forces, including those not on active duty, to restore order amid rioting during protests against a government austerity drive. Police were put on a "general state of alert" to deal with the clashes after three people died in the bank that was firebombed on the margins of the demonstrations.  May 5, 2010. (Tomasz Grzyb/AFP/Getty Images)

A medic prepares to remove the body of a person who perished in a bank that was set on fire during demonstrations in Athens. Three people died in the fire. Greece faced a day of demonstrations during a nationwide strike by civil servants protesting the announcement of draconian austeristy measures. May 5, 2010.   (REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol) 

A riot policeman runs from angry protesters in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki. May 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Giorgos Nissiotis)

Greek riot police clash with protesters in Athens, Greece. Three people have died after protesters set fire to the Marfin Egnatia Bank in Athens, with further unrest being fuelled by anger at government austerity measures to freeze wages, cut pensions and to increase taxation.  May 5, 2010 (Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

 

Greek police clash with demonstrators in front of a government building in Mytilene, Greece. Three people have died after protesters set fire to the Marfin Egnatia Bank in Athens, with further unrest being fuelled by anger at government austerity measures to freeze wages, cut pensions and to increase taxation. May 5, 2010. (Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

Greek riot police clash with protesters in Athens, Greece. May 5, 2010. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

A protestor throws a stone at police near the Parliament building in Athens. A nationwide general strike gripped Greece in the first major test of the socialist government's resolve to push through unprecedented austerity cuts needed to avert fiscal meltdown. May 5, 2010. (ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Riot police arrest a demonstrator in central Athens. An estimated 100,000 people took to the streets during a nationwide wave of strikes against spending cuts aimed at saving the country from bankrupty. , May 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis)

Marfin Egnatia Bank employees look on at the scene where 3 people died after protesters set fire to the building, in Athens, Greece. Further unrest has been fuelled by anger at government austerity measures to freeze wages, cut pensions and to increase taxation. May 5, 2010. (Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

Protestors shout anti-government slogans in front of the Greek Parliament in Athens. Athens police chiefs mobilized all their forces, including those not on active duty, to restore order amid rioting during protests against a government austerity drive. Police were put on a "general state of alert" to deal with the clashes after three people died in a bank that was firebombed on the margins of the demonstrations. May 5, 2010. (DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images)

Firemen evacuate people from a burning Marfin Bank building in the center of Athens. May 5, 2010.  (Tomasz Grzyb/AFP/Getty Images)

A Greek riot police officer runs to escape from protestors during clashes in the center of Athens. May 5, 2010. (ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images)

A demonstrator yells at riot police during violent demonstrations over austerity measures in Thessaloniki, Greece. The capital faced a day of violent protests and a nationwide strike by civil servants outraged by the announcement of draconian austeristy measures. May 5, 2010. (REUTERS/Grigoris Siamidis)

Comments

[Joe Cartoon]

Bunch of crazies.

[richmondhill]

I hate riots, protests and demonstrations in any form. Armed forces are needed to restore order.

[Wayne]

The rich and corrupt shall suffer the wrath of the oppressed and the masses than have become the slaves of the governments that are no better than pompas dictators! The police become the goons of the corrupt governments that want nothing more than total control!

[Andrew E]

The Greek riot police need Colt C-7's and C-8, from the look of those photos.

[Gordie]

Ah the tax evading Greeks who double dip in pensions here and in Greece have to pay back the money they stole to feather their own nests. Back to the Stone age with these lazy, corrupt socialists. This crisis belies their true nature and why they have been afterthoughts since before Christ was born.

[Brian]

Don't police have guns in Greece? I believe in protest, but not like this! This is way out of hand.

[ChrisMichelle]

We had planned to go on a cruise of the Greek Isles in June but cancelled as we are afraid of the safety of our young children. My coworker had also planned to go to Greece this year but has also cancelled. It's too bad the Greek people are shooting themselves in the foot and scaring away visitors who would othewise spend much needed $$$.

[spiritofwicca]

This has gotten way out of hand. Greece needs to send in the army to stop the violence before more lives are lost.

[Gordie]

Notice the silence from the Greek Community here and in Australia!! They should be ashamed of what they did to their country. They are morally bankrupt and well as financially. It is time for CRA to stop their double dipping!!

[adihamed]

This is people's right to protest against economical politics of government.