Greek firefighters demanding renewed job contracts clashed with riot police in front of parliament on Thursday, with the officers firing tear gas in a bid to disperse the angry crowd, dpa reported.
The demonstration by the firefighters - many of whom have short- term contracts - was the latest protest targeting the cash-strapped government, which has had to drastically cut down spending and increase taxes in order to stave off bankruptcy.
Last month, riot police using tear gas broke into Greece's most famous site, the Acropolis, which striking Culture Ministry workers had blocked for days in an ongoing dispute with the government over outstanding wages and layoffs.
Greece's Socialist government has passed a series of austerity measures, including salary and pension cuts, in order to meet terms set out in an emergency bailout worth 110 billion euros (150 billion dollars) by the European Union and International Monetary Fund. dpa cp amh Author: Christine Pirovolakis