Clash between protesters and police in Greece

Protesters attacked police with bottles and firebombs in the Greek capital of Athens. The police responded firing tear gas to disperse the protesters. The clash took place during a nationwide strike against the government's harsh economic measures.

The trade unions claim that the current national economic crisis was the fault of businessmen and bankers not the workers and employees who now have to suffer tax hikes and wage cuts. The government decided to increase taxes on petrol, alcohol and tobacco and also to reduce wages and other benefits to make up for the budget deficit.

Greece' economic problems are taken differently by the EU member states. France urges the EU to help Greece while Germany says neither "yes" nor "no". However polls show that most of Germans would like to exclude Greece from the euro-zone.