Violent riots across Athens as lawmakers pass new austerity
Athens - Greece's parliament passed a crucial austerity and debt relief bill on Monday as violent riots raged through Athens with looted shops and dozens of buildings engulfed in flames.
A total of 199 lawmakers in the 300-member parliament voted in favor of the bill, while the coalition government expelled 43 deputies over dissent in the crucial debt vote, reducing their majority from 236 to 193.
Athens must now persuade its international lenders, the eurozone and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it has the will to implement the array of spending cuts and public sector reforms required to release 130 billion euros (171 billion dollars) in emergency loans.
Thick clouds of smoke and tear gas filled the air around parliament as the voting took place, with demonstrators setting more than 20 buildings, including apartments, shops, banks, cafes, two cinemas and a museum ablaze. Looters could be seen smashing their way through dozens of shops in the worst damage the country has seen in years.
Greek riot police clashed with more than 2,000 black-hooded anarchists carrying clubs and petrol bombs on dozens of fronts across the city filled with smashing glass and burnt wreckage.
More than 80 people, including 30 police officers, were reported injured and 25 arrests were made, police said. Another 30 people were detained.
Prime Minister Lucas Papademos appealed for calm to be restored to the country as the voting got underway in parliament.
"The destruction taking place outside this building has no place in democracy," Papademos said. "I call on the public to show calm – during this crucial and serious period we do not have the luxury of this type of protest."//DPA
