Scuffles as students protest in Athens

Greek students are the latest to hold demonstrations against the country’s harsh austerity programme.

Some scuffles broke out between protesters and police, as students attempted to sit down in front of the parliament.

This is the latest in a series of protest rallies oganised in Athens.

Education reforms, with cuts and the introduction of competition, are among a whole range of controversial measures.

One 16-year-old student said: “There are no books, no teachers and we came to fight for this; for this and for free public education.”

Pensioner Chaginikolaou Sotiris said: “We’ve moved back in time by 60 years … because this awful and shameful situation they’ve brought upon us has never happened in the past. I’m 76 and I don’t remember ever living like this, not even during the German occupation.”

Greek protest groups are worried that those lucky to keep their jobs are losing wages and paying more taxes, even though it is not certain the measures will be enough to save the economy.

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