Police and protesters clash as strike gets violent

Police have clashed with protesters hurling petrol bombs in central Athens after an anti-government rally called as part of a general strike turned violent.

Riot police used tear gas and pepper spray against several hundred demonstrators after the violence broke out near the country’s parliament.

Protesters also set fire to trees in the National Gardens and used hammers to smash paving stones and marble panels to use as missiles against the riot police.