Greek riot police fire tear gas at farmers

Riot police on the southern island of Crete today fired tear gas at farmers to prevent them from driving their tractors from the Greek port of Piraeus to the capital as part of a protest demanding government financial help. At least two people were injured in the clashes.

The farmers arrived in Piraeus on overnight ferry boats from Crete with dozens of tractors, pick-up trucks and other agricultural vehicles they intended to drive through Athens to the Agriculture Ministry. But Greek authorities had said they would only be allowed to carry out a demonstration on foot, not with vehicles that would snarl traffic in the capital.