国际英语资讯:General strike against new austerity ends in minor scuffles in Athens_时事

国际英语资讯:General strike against new austerity ends in minor scuffles in Athens

ATHENS, May 17 -- Greece was hit on Wednesday by a new 24-hour general strike against the fresh round of austerity measures that the government has tabled in parliament for vote in a bid to close the pending bailout review and secure further aid by international lenders.

About 10,000 protesters, according to police estimates, marched peacefully in the center of Athens in the main rally organized by GSEE and ADEDY, the largest labor unions representing private sector employees and public servants.

国际英语资讯:General strike against new austerity ends in minor scuffles in Athens1

The demonstration ended in minor scuffles between hooded youth and anti-riot police on Syntagma square in front of the parliament building.

Protesters hurled stones and petrol bombs at police, who returned with tear gas. No severe injuries have been reported so far.

"People resist the robbery," chanted protesters during the 50th general strike called in Greece since the start of the debt crisis and the implementation of bailout programs in 2010, as GSEE President Giannis Panagopoulos noted.

Affected by the strike, schools closed nationwide, bus, train, ferry and airline services disrupted and public hospitals run only with emergency staff.

Public transport disruption may continue into Thursday, while ferries will remain docked until Friday, according to unionists.

The Left-led government defends the new package of tax hikes, pension cuts and reforms as a necessary step to ensure more help by creditors and start talks on debt relief to move forward, exit the crisis and restore growth.