(15 Dec 2010) SHOTLIST
1. Molotov cocktail going off and policeman catching on fire
2. Various of police and protesters clashing; Molotovs burning
3. People running from scene; clashes and smoke in background
4. Tracking shot of former Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis of conservative opposition New Democracy party being hit and shouted at by protesters UPSOUND (Greek) "Thieves"
5. Various of Hatzidakis being protected from being hit by protesters
6. Hatzidakis escorted away bleeding
7. Pull out to wide top shot of fire in Syntagma Square with police and protesters UPSOUND: tear gas being fired
8. Top shot of protesters throwing Molotov cocktails and clashing with police
9. Various of protesters firing fire extinguishers as police push them back
10. Protesters throwing Molotov cocktails into building
11. Various of protesters and police firing tear gas
12. Police arriving on motorcycles, zoom out to wide of Syntagma Square
13. Pile of newspapers burning
14. Various of protesters marching on street
15. Wide top shot of police gathering in front of Parliament
16. Various of police blocking roads around Parliament
STORYLINE
Hundreds of protesters clashed with riot police across central Athens on Wednesday, smashing cars and hurling gasoline bombs during a nationwide labour protest against the government's latest austerity measures.
Police fired tear gas and flash grenades as the violence escalated outside parliament and spread to other parts of the capital.
Youths wearing black masks and ski goggles used sledgehammers to smash paving stones and hurled the rubble at police.
A central post office near parliament briefly caught fire as employees and bystanders ran for safety.
The former Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis was attacked by protesters outside a luxury hotel.
He was escorted, bleeding from the scene as his attackers yelled "thieves" at him.
The clashes were among the worst since the start of Greece's financial crisis, which ignited the European debt crisis and has resulted in wage cuts and a spike in unemployment.
Wednesday's violence erupted after 20,000 protesters marched to parliament during a general strike against a new round of labour reforms.
The strike grounded flights, closed factories, disrupted hospitals and hit train and bus services.
Crippled by high budget deficits and a mountain of debt, Greece was saved from bankruptcy in May by an international rescue loan package.
In return, the Socialists slashed pensions and salaries, hiked taxes, raised retirement ages and eased restrictions on private sector layoffs.
Late on Tuesday, the government won a key vote in parliament on new labour reforms that include deeper pay cuts, salary caps and involuntary staff transfers at state companies.
The new law also reduces unions' collective bargaining power in the private sector, allowing employers to substantially cut salaries.
Unions said Wednesday's strike aimed to pressure the Socialist government into slowing down the spending cuts that it said are hurting average Greeks.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
