GREEK police fired tear gas and battled groups of hooded youths near parliament in a rally against anti-austerity measures which international lenders have demanded to stave off national bankruptcy.

A 24-hour anti-austerity strike by Greece’s largest labour unions crippled public services today, as the Socialist government prepared to begin a battle to push through last-ditch cost-cutting reforms which will extend beyond its own term in office.

GREEK protesters have vowed to surround parliament today to prevent deputies from debating new austerity measures, as unions said they would bring the country to a halt in a national strike.

GREEK protesters clashed with police and set fire to cars and a hotel in central Athens yesterday as tens of thousands marched against austerity measures aimed at pulling the country out of a debt crisis.

Greece’s state sector shut down today as civil servants walked off the job in a 24-hour strike, demanding the government take back stringent austerity measures designed to pull the country out of a debt crisis.

More than 2,500 protesting truck drivers marched through Athens today to stage a vigil outside parliament in continuing demonstrations against planned labour market reforms.

Greece’s biggest labour union has called a new nationwide strike for next week to protest against proposed reforms to the debt-laden country’s pension and labour systems.

GREEK protesters unfurled banners over the defensive walls of the ancient Acropolis in protest at harsh new austerity measures as strikes began across the country.

Greek protesters unfurled banners over the defensive walls of the ancient Acropolis today in protest at harsh new austerity measures as strikes began across the country.

THE Greek parliament approved new spending cuts and taxes yesterday aimed at defusing the country’s debt crisis, while protesters opposed to the measures fought with police outside.

Greece agreed tough new spending cuts today aimed at dealing with its massive debt crisis even as mobs protesting against them fought running battles with riot police in Athens.

Violent protests against planned new spending cuts ripped through Athens today with riot police having to use tear gas against crowds.

A PROTEST march by 50,000 Greeks over planned government cuts to bring burgeoning debt under control ended in violent clashes with police yesterday.

More than 30,000 protesters marched through Athens today as a nationwide strike against government cuts crippled the country.

A nationwide strike hit Greece today crippling public services, grounding flights and closing schools in a demonstration against government cuts brought on by its financial crisis.

A strike by civil servants today grounded all flights and shut down public services across Greece, as labour unions mounted their first major challenge to austerity measures in the debt-plagued country.

A one-day strike by Greek civil servants grounded about 600 domestic and international flights today, stranding thousands of passengers around the country.