Greece set to clear cuts as protesters cry ‘fight, they’re drinking our blood’

Greek police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters who flooded into the main square before parliament in a massive show of anger against politicians who were due to narrowly pass an austerity package.

The violence erupted as a handful of protesters tried to break through a barricade to enter parliament, where prime minister Antonis Samaras was expected to barely eke out a win for the belt-tightening law despite opposition from a coalition partner.

The parliamentary session was briefly interrupted when parliament workers went on strike and opposition politicians walked out of the chamber in protest.