Greek PM calls crisis cabinet meeting

By Kerin Hope in Athens
Published: December 7 2008 12:39 | Last updated: December 8 2008 20:30
Costas Karamanlis, Greek prime minister, called an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday night amid escalating violence in central Athens with rioters setting fire to dozens of buildings around the parliament square.

Mr Karamanlis was expected to declare a state of emergency as police struggled to control a third day of riots in half a dozen cities around Greece.

In Athens the situation deteriorated after nightfall when masked youths broke up a peaceful protest march by the leftwing opposition Syriza party, throwing firebombs at two luxury hotels and a bank branch.

Thousands of Greek youths on Monday took part in a third day of violent protests following the killing of a 15-year-old boy by a police officer in a students’ district of Athens.

Earlier as police fired teargas at the rock-throwing demonstrators in central Athens, shoppers fled into a nearby metro station. The central square overlooking the parliament building emptied after police buses blocked access to traffic.

Undeterred by the violence, two leftwing political parties staged separate protest meetings followed by a march to parliament.

Alecos Alavanos, leader of Syriza, which is supported by many young Greeks, called for the resignation of the centre-right government.

“There was no justification for what happened. The conservatives cannot stay in power after this,” he said.

Greek authorities appeared ill-prepared to handle the sustained protests, with many government buildings left unguarded in Athens and other cities.

Several government offices had to be evacuated after fire-bomb attacks. Police said more than 60 shops, banks and dealerships were damaged over the weekend.

Business in the city centre of Athens ground to a halt.

Many shops with smashed windows opened as usual.

“In these times businesses can’t afford to turn any customers away,” said George Sofronos, deputy president of the city’s retailing association.

George Alogoskoufis, finance minister, said the government would pay compensation for damage to property.

Authorities fear more street clashes, with a teachers’ walk-out set for Tuesday, to be followed by a full-fledged public sector strike on Wednesday.

The teenager, Alexandros Gligoropoulos, died after being hit by bullets fired by a police officer on Saturday night.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008