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15 December 2010
Last updated at 07:20 ET
Greek police have clashed with protesters in the capital Athens as unions stage a general strike against government austerity measures.
Protesters threw petrol bombs and police responded with tear gas as the violence flared outside parliament.
The day of action has grounded flights, disrupted public transport and closed schools across the country.
It is the seventh general strike this year following tough reforms needed to receive a 110bn euro (£84bn) bail-out.
Police said about 15,000 people were taking part in marches in Athens.
Protesters started fires around luxury hotels in Syntagma Square, outside parliament. Police fired several rounds of tear gas in response.
On Tuesday, the Greek parliament voted through key economic reforms stipulated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and EU, which are funding the bail-out.
The new legislation will cap the salaries of workers in state-run companies, such as the public transport networks.
In the private sector, employers will no longer have to abide by union negotiated agreements and can set their own wages.
Prime Minister George Papandreou said the measures were designed to keep struggling companies afloat.
But union leaders have condemned the moves.
"We need to send the government a message that we will not accept measures that lead us only to poverty and unemployment," Ilias Iliopoulos, general secretary at the civil servants' union Adedy told Reuters news agency.
Wednesday's strike is part of a European day of action against economic reforms.
Workers are rallying against austerity measures in countries including Spain and Belgium, ahead of a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, says the Greek government has refused to be knocked off course as it pushes through the reforms.
Many Greeks believe their workers are being crushed by the IMF and EU in a huge economic experiment, he adds.
Are you in Greece? Are you taking part in the general strike? Send us your comments using the form below. You can also send us your pictures and video by following the instructions below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions
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Protesters threw petrol bombs and police responded with tear gas as the violence flared outside parliament.
The day of action has grounded flights, disrupted public transport and closed schools across the country.
It is the seventh general strike this year following tough reforms needed to receive a 110bn euro (£84bn) bail-out.
Police said about 15,000 people were taking part in marches in Athens.
Protesters started fires around luxury hotels in Syntagma Square, outside parliament. Police fired several rounds of tear gas in response.
On Tuesday, the Greek parliament voted through key economic reforms stipulated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and EU, which are funding the bail-out.
The new legislation will cap the salaries of workers in state-run companies, such as the public transport networks.
In the private sector, employers will no longer have to abide by union negotiated agreements and can set their own wages.
Prime Minister George Papandreou said the measures were designed to keep struggling companies afloat.
But union leaders have condemned the moves.
"We need to send the government a message that we will not accept measures that lead us only to poverty and unemployment," Ilias Iliopoulos, general secretary at the civil servants' union Adedy told Reuters news agency.
Wednesday's strike is part of a European day of action against economic reforms.
Workers are rallying against austerity measures in countries including Spain and Belgium, ahead of a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, says the Greek government has refused to be knocked off course as it pushes through the reforms.
Many Greeks believe their workers are being crushed by the IMF and EU in a huge economic experiment, he adds.
Are you in Greece? Are you taking part in the general strike? Send us your comments using the form below. You can also send us your pictures and video by following the instructions below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions
Powered by WizardRSS | Work At Home Jobs