As Greeks
commemorated the 41st anniversary of the 1973 student revolt that ended the
military junta in the country, tens of thousands protesters took to the streets
of Athens Monday to demonstrate against the austerity policies of the current
government.
In recent
years, due to the economic crisis and the austerity policies imposed by the
European Union and the International Monetary Fund, the annual protests
celebrating the fall of the dictatorship have been gaining in popular support.
The
demonstrators demanded an end to cuts in social spending and pensions, while
also calling for an increase in wages.
Greece has
one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe at 26 percent, with almost half
of people under 25 years of age jobless, according to government data.
While the
march began peacefully, clashes erupted as it ended with the police force of
some 7,000 throwing tear gas and stun grenades at demonstrators. Nine people
were wounded, although none were taken to hospital.
(Πηγή:
telesurtv.net)
