Saturday, January 10, 2009

Greek reporters slam 'police brutality' at Athens demo

Greek journalists Friday attacked police conduct at a demonstration in central Athens with the interior minister conceding that there might have been excesses.

Fourteen lawyers were among those detained after an estimated 3,000 people, chiefly teachers and students, took part in a demonstration, at times violent, against the government.

The march was organised on the anniversary of the 1991 murder of Nikos Temponeras, a teacher who was bludgeoned to death by a right-wing unionist.

Initial skirmishes broke out near the university between dozens of young people wearing hoods and anti-riot police who fired gas to disperse them.

Bins were set on fire and sticks and stones thrown at the security forces.

Clashes continued in the area which was closed to traffic and where hundreds of demonstrators remained for an hour.

There were repeated police charges and several arrests were made. Later police headquarters were sealed off.

The detained lawyers were released after the intervention of their professional association.

The influential Athens journalists' union (ESHEA) protested to the interior ministry about "the brutal attacks and beatings" to which reporters and camera crews had been subjected.

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