10.21.2008

PROTESTS IN ATHENS OVER POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT...



TRUTH IN JOURNALISM AWARD:
AP CALLS GENERAL STRIKE IN GREECE AGAINST POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE BANKRUPTSY OF PENSION FUNDS, STRIKE AGAINST "FINANCIAL REFORMS"...

(...)The strike over the government's economic reforms affected both the public and private sector and grounded all flights to and from Greece, forcing the state air carrier, Olympic Airlines, to cancel 75 flights.
The company's smaller rival, Aegean Airlines, suspended 23 flights, aggravating hundreds of travelers at the country's main international airport.
The nationwide walkout by millions of workers also crippled urban, rail and sea transport and kept schools, banks and public offices shut. State hospitals and utilities, including the partially privatized OTE telecom company, operated on skeleton staff while journalists staged a media blackout.
The first march of 15,000 protesters was calm but AP reported that clashes erupted on the second march between riot police and youths throwing missiles at store windows.
Police responded with tear gas, forcing demonstrators to flee. There were no reports of injuries. (...)