Gangs of Greek secondary school students hurled stones and petrol bombs at police stations in Athens suburbs yesterday, in a sixth day of anti-government violence since the police shooting of a teenager.
Central Athens was calmer than in previous days as people returned to work after a 24-hour general strike on Wednesday called by unions opposed to pension reforms and privatisations.
The shooting provided the spark for an explosion of anger over corruption scandals and economic hardship, triggering Greece's worst unrest since the end of military rule in the 1970s.
Violence has hit at least 10 cities and caused damage worth hundreds of millions of euro.
Trouble flared before dawn in Athens when students occupying the university clashed with police. By mid-morning, it spread to 15 police stations, from upmarket neighbourhoods of north Athens to the working-class west. Left-wing groups mounted another protest rally in the evening.
Data released yesterday showed that economic hardship is hitting more Greeks. Unemployment, especially high among young people and women, rose to 7.4 per cent in September from 7.1 in August, reversing four years of decline, and economists said it would keep climbing as the global crisis reached Greece.
The police killing of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos on Saturday ignited public anger at police brutality and economic difficulties aggravated by the global downturn. More protests were announced for today and Monday, and many Greeks wonder if the government can remain in power.Many are angry that the policeman charged with murdering the teenager has not expressed remorse.