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| Protests as Athens funeral held | Protests as Athens funeral held |
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| Protesters confronted police outside the parliament in Athens, as a funeral was held for the teenager whose death has sparked rioting across Greece. | Protesters confronted police outside the parliament in Athens, as a funeral was held for the teenager whose death has sparked rioting across Greece. |
| Hundreds of buildings have been torched and dozens of people injured in four days of rioting after a policeman shot Alexandros Grigoropoulos, 15. | Hundreds of buildings have been torched and dozens of people injured in four days of rioting after a policeman shot Alexandros Grigoropoulos, 15. |
| Thousands of mourners attended his funeral in a southern suburb of Athens. | |
| Greece's PM has held crisis talks with the president, while the opposition has called for the government to step down. | Greece's PM has held crisis talks with the president, while the opposition has called for the government to step down. |
| Schools were shut as thousands of teachers, schoolchildren and parents held a peaceful demonstration in central Athens to protest against the killing of Alexandros Grigoropoulos. See where unrest has spread | Schools were shut as thousands of teachers, schoolchildren and parents held a peaceful demonstration in central Athens to protest against the killing of Alexandros Grigoropoulos. See where unrest has spread |
| They marched towards Greece's parliament building behind a large banner declaring "Assassins, the government is the culprit." | They marched towards Greece's parliament building behind a large banner declaring "Assassins, the government is the culprit." |
| The situation escalated as hundreds of young protesters joined the protest, throwing stones and bottles at lines of shield-wielding riot-police outside parliament, who responded with tear gas. | The situation escalated as hundreds of young protesters joined the protest, throwing stones and bottles at lines of shield-wielding riot-police outside parliament, who responded with tear gas. |
| Lost confidence | Lost confidence |
| Further south, in the coastal suburb of Paleo Faliro, a sombre crowd gathered for the teenager's funeral. | Further south, in the coastal suburb of Paleo Faliro, a sombre crowd gathered for the teenager's funeral. |
| Several thousand mourners attended, many carrying single white roses. Large wreaths of white flowers sat at the gates to the cemetery. | |
| The ceremony was calm, but clashes involving small groups of stone-throwing youths were later reported outside the cemetery. | |
| Two police officers have been charged in connection with Alexandros Grigoropoulos's death on Saturday, but results of a post-mortem to determine the trajectory of the bullet that killed him are not yet known. | Two police officers have been charged in connection with Alexandros Grigoropoulos's death on Saturday, but results of a post-mortem to determine the trajectory of the bullet that killed him are not yet known. |
| The officer who fired contends it was a ricochet from a warning shot but witnesses told Greek TV it was a direct hit. | The officer who fired contends it was a ricochet from a warning shot but witnesses told Greek TV it was a direct hit. |
| Earlier, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis held talks with President Karolos Papoulias and opposition leaders in an attempt to reach a consensus on what action to take.Advertisement | Earlier, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis held talks with President Karolos Papoulias and opposition leaders in an attempt to reach a consensus on what action to take.Advertisement |
| Protesters and police clashed in the streets | Protesters and police clashed in the streets |
| Mr Karamanlis, whose conservative party has a parliamentary majority of just one seat, has called for unity and vowed there will be no leniency in dealing with the rioters."No one has the right to use this tragic incident as an excuse for acts of violence," he said. | Mr Karamanlis, whose conservative party has a parliamentary majority of just one seat, has called for unity and vowed there will be no leniency in dealing with the rioters."No one has the right to use this tragic incident as an excuse for acts of violence," he said. |
| "At this critical time, the political world must unite to condemn those responsible for this disaster and isolate them." | "At this critical time, the political world must unite to condemn those responsible for this disaster and isolate them." |
| But after meeting Mr Karamanlis, socialist leader George Papandreou said Greeks had lost confidence in the conservative government. | But after meeting Mr Karamanlis, socialist leader George Papandreou said Greeks had lost confidence in the conservative government. |
| "The only thing this government can offer is to resign and turn to the people for its verdict," said Mr Papandreou. | "The only thing this government can offer is to resign and turn to the people for its verdict," said Mr Papandreou. |
| Police at bay | Police at bay |
| Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said the government would not put up with the violence, and scores of arrests have been made. | Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said the government would not put up with the violence, and scores of arrests have been made. |
| But appeals for calm have so far been largely ignored by the mostly young protesters, and plans as to how the violence should be contained remain unclear. Rebellion deeply embeddedIn pictures: Greek riotsEyewitness: Athens riotThessaloniki riot: 'War zone here' | But appeals for calm have so far been largely ignored by the mostly young protesters, and plans as to how the violence should be contained remain unclear. Rebellion deeply embeddedIn pictures: Greek riotsEyewitness: Athens riotThessaloniki riot: 'War zone here' |
| Police appear to be powerless to prevent rioters from attacking symbols of wealth and prestige in Athens, the BBC's Malcolm Brabant reports. | Police appear to be powerless to prevent rioters from attacking symbols of wealth and prestige in Athens, the BBC's Malcolm Brabant reports. |
| Protesters wielding petrol bombs set fire to banks, shops, hotels, vehicles, rubbish bins and even the city's giant Christmas tree in central Syntagma Square. | Protesters wielding petrol bombs set fire to banks, shops, hotels, vehicles, rubbish bins and even the city's giant Christmas tree in central Syntagma Square. |
| "Rage is what I feel for what has happened, rage," said a student taking part in the protests. "This cop who did it must see what it is to kill a kid and to destroy a life." | "Rage is what I feel for what has happened, rage," said a student taking part in the protests. "This cop who did it must see what it is to kill a kid and to destroy a life." |
| Violent clashes have been reported in towns and cities across the country, spreading to Rhodes and Crete on Monday. Police stations were attacked in Piraeus and Corfu. | Violent clashes have been reported in towns and cities across the country, spreading to Rhodes and Crete on Monday. Police stations were attacked in Piraeus and Corfu. |
| Hundreds of students clashed with riot police in Thessaloniki, Greece's second biggest city, where students used university buildings to stockpile petrol bombs. | Hundreds of students clashed with riot police in Thessaloniki, Greece's second biggest city, where students used university buildings to stockpile petrol bombs. |
| No troops With widespread reports of looting, Mr Karamanlis blamed "extreme elements" for taking advantage of the situation to engage in vandalism, and pledged to compensate damaged businesses.HAVE YOUR SAYThe army must take over now to stop these riotsKoufos, Thessaloniki, GreeceSend us your comments | No troops With widespread reports of looting, Mr Karamanlis blamed "extreme elements" for taking advantage of the situation to engage in vandalism, and pledged to compensate damaged businesses.HAVE YOUR SAYThe army must take over now to stop these riotsKoufos, Thessaloniki, GreeceSend us your comments |
| He did not say what the government's plans were to handle the crisis after an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday. | He did not say what the government's plans were to handle the crisis after an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday. |
| Observers say a state of emergency may be imposed, giving the authorities special powers to clear the streets. | Observers say a state of emergency may be imposed, giving the authorities special powers to clear the streets. |
| But there is no question of calling in troops, our correspondent says: Greece has bitter memories of military rule so seeing troops on streets would be beyond the pale. | But there is no question of calling in troops, our correspondent says: Greece has bitter memories of military rule so seeing troops on streets would be beyond the pale. |
| Greece's ongoing violence has exacerbated public discontent at the country's stunted economic growth and high unemployment levels. | Greece's ongoing violence has exacerbated public discontent at the country's stunted economic growth and high unemployment levels. |
| It comes ahead of a general strike planned for Wednesday over welfare reforms and economic policy. | It comes ahead of a general strike planned for Wednesday over welfare reforms and economic policy. |
| Back to top | Back to top |
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