Riots in Greece head into third week

Rioting in Greece entered its third week with more running battles between hundreds of youths and police in Athens. There had been a vigil to remember the 15 year old boy, whose death from a police gunshot on December 6th triggered the confrontations. After the gathering, violence erupted again, with stones and petrol-bombs raining down on riot-police. Security officials say more than 600 students sheltered in university buildings, which police are banned from entering, only running out to lob their missiles.

For most of the day, the capital city had been quiet. But as night fell, the scenes which have become so familiar in Greece played out once more in several areas of Athens and Thessaloniki in the north of the country. Earlier, another group of demonstrators targeted the main Christmas tree in Athens, hurling rubbish and attempting to burn it down. The protests might have been sparked by the death of the teenager, but since then, they have become a vehicle of protest against low-wages, unemployment and fears about pensions. Analysts believe this, the worst unrest Greece has seen in decades, could force an early electionMore about: Clashes and riots, Greece

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