Three Die During Massive Protest In Athens
Posted May 5, 2010 9:11 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A massive protest in Athens over the Greek government’s austerity measures turned deadly Wednesday.
Fire officials in the Greek capital said three people were killed in a fire that broke out at a bank during the demonstration.
Some of the estimated 100,000 protesters chanting “thieves, thieves” that took to the streets in Athens Wednesday tossed chunks of stone and Molotov cocktails at riot police and various buildings, sparking at least two fires.
Police answered back with tear gas and stun grenades.
Many Greeks are angry about the government’s plan to enact serious budget cuts – a move required before the country can secure 80 billion euros in bailout funds from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Germany is responsible for fronting 28 per cent of the cash for the EU bailout.
The austerity measures include wage freezes and pension cuts in an effort to trim about 30 billion euros from the Greek government’s budget over three years. The government also plans to raise taxes.
Union leaders claim these cuts will affect low-income earners the hardest.
The nation is teetering on bankruptcy and its loans are due May 19. Greece’s economic collapse could produce serious problems across Europe, especially in Spain, Portugal and Italy whose economies are troubled. The euro dropped to $1.29 for the first time in over a year Wednesday.
The massive protest happened as the nation deals with a 24-hour nationwide general strike, which has shut down airports, ports, schools, government services and left hospitals with bare bones staff.
