Protests turn violent as Greek parliament prepares to vote on new austerity measures

Protests turn violent as Greek parliament prepares to vote on new austerity measures
By Euronews
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Masked protesters clashed with riot police in Athens, ahead of a vote on a unpopular reform package to secure much-needed bailout funds.

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After sun down, otherwise peaceful anti-austerity protests in Greece, have turned violent.

Masked protesters clashed with riot police in Athens, ahead of a vote on a unpopular reform package to secure much-needed bailout funds.

Thousands of people rallied over further belt-tightening measures including tax hikes and pension cuts in the country already hit by six years of austerity.

The package to be voted later on Sunday would reduce the highest pension payouts, increase contributions for some workers and raise taxes on medium to high earners.

Alexis Tsipras is expected to pass the reforms ahead of eurozone crunch talks on Monday.

The government is hoping to persuade international creditors to release the next tranche of 86 million euros in bailout money.

Third consecutive day of protests in #Greece and this graffiti sums up the reasons pretty well#Euro#Athenspic.twitter.com/6Y1UUeTCBT

— Savvas Karmaniolas (@savvaskarma) May 8, 2016

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