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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Clashes erupt amid Greek strikes | Clashes erupt amid Greek strikes |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Riot police in Athens have clashed with protesters during a 24-hour strike in Greece that has severely disrupted transport networks and public services. | Riot police in Athens have clashed with protesters during a 24-hour strike in Greece that has severely disrupted transport networks and public services. |
| Police fired tear gas to disperse a group of stone-throwing demonstrators. | Police fired tear gas to disperse a group of stone-throwing demonstrators. |
| But there were no reports of injuries and for the most part rallies in the capital were proceeding peacefully. | But there were no reports of injuries and for the most part rallies in the capital were proceeding peacefully. |
| Two unions representing some 2.5 million people called the strike in protest at privatisation, caps on pay and reforms to the pension system. | Two unions representing some 2.5 million people called the strike in protest at privatisation, caps on pay and reforms to the pension system. |
| Country 'at a halt' | Country 'at a halt' |
| Public offices across the country were forced to close, with hundreds of thousands of people thought to have joined the strike. | Public offices across the country were forced to close, with hundreds of thousands of people thought to have joined the strike. |
| Nearly 200 flights to and from Greece have been cancelled | Nearly 200 flights to and from Greece have been cancelled |
| Nearly 200 domestic and international flights and many train services have been cancelled, and ferries were forced to remain in port. | Nearly 200 domestic and international flights and many train services have been cancelled, and ferries were forced to remain in port. |
| State hospitals ran on skeleton staffs, while schools, universities and post offices kept their doors closed. | State hospitals ran on skeleton staffs, while schools, universities and post offices kept their doors closed. |
| Bank staff, lawyers, journalists and civil engineers also joined the strike. | Bank staff, lawyers, journalists and civil engineers also joined the strike. |
| "The country has effectively come to a halt," said union spokesman Efstathios Anestis. | "The country has effectively come to a halt," said union spokesman Efstathios Anestis. |
| "Participation is very high, in many sectors it exceeds 90% of the work force." | "Participation is very high, in many sectors it exceeds 90% of the work force." |
| There was no confirmation of that estimate from the government, and with journalists also on strike, reliable news was sparse. | There was no confirmation of that estimate from the government, and with journalists also on strike, reliable news was sparse. |
| Two marches wound their way through Athens, displaying opposition to the 2009 draft budget, due to go before parliament this week. | Two marches wound their way through Athens, displaying opposition to the 2009 draft budget, due to go before parliament this week. |
| Many of the protesters called for increased government support - demanding the minimum wage be doubled. | Many of the protesters called for increased government support - demanding the minimum wage be doubled. |
| They decried a 28bn-euro (£22bn) government rescue package to banks hit by the international credit crisis - one banner read: "Not one euro to support the capitalists." | They decried a 28bn-euro (£22bn) government rescue package to banks hit by the international credit crisis - one banner read: "Not one euro to support the capitalists." |
| The unions are also opposing the government's plans to privatise the loss-making Olympic Airlines. | The unions are also opposing the government's plans to privatise the loss-making Olympic Airlines. |
| The conservative government of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis wants to press ahead with its privatisation plans and the overhaul of the country's debt-ridden pension system. | The conservative government of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis wants to press ahead with its privatisation plans and the overhaul of the country's debt-ridden pension system. |
| The plans include eliminating most early retirement schemes, merging pension funds and capping auxiliary pensions. | The plans include eliminating most early retirement schemes, merging pension funds and capping auxiliary pensions. |
| Mr Karamanlis has promised to shield consumers from price rises and compensate workers from privatised firms. | Mr Karamanlis has promised to shield consumers from price rises and compensate workers from privatised firms. |
| However, the plans have provoked a series of nationwide strikes and demonstrations. | However, the plans have provoked a series of nationwide strikes and demonstrations. |
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