Streets of fire: Protesters set policeman alight as riots erupt in Athens
Rally of 30,000 in capital turns nasty as petrol bombs are hurled at police
Central Bank of Greece attacked, and paving stones smashed
Protesters chat 'Don't obey the rich - fight back!'
Level of 'anger and desperation' increasing, warns union leader
Also scuffles in Greece's second-largest city, Thessaloniki
WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT
Protesters clashed with police today in the Greek capital, Athens, as a 24-hour general strike gripped the financially hit country.
More than 30,000 demonstrators clashed with police near to the Greek parliament buildings, and hurled petrol bombs and stones, causing a dramatic inferno.
To combat the angry protesters, who are unhappy about severe budget cuts, the police sprayed the crowd with tear gas and used stun grenades - but that served to only inflame the situation.
Agonising: A policeman makes a desperate attempt to help his colleague who caught fire after protesters threw a petrol bomb in Athens
Help me! The policeman attempts to rip off his burning helmet
Attack: A policeman on a motorbike writhes in agony as he is hit with a petrol bomb. His colleague looks on not knowing how to react
The rally in the capital was part of a general strike that crippled services and public transport around the country.
Thousands of peaceful demonstrators ran to side streets to take cover. A police officer was attacked and his
uniform caught fire in the city's main Syntagma Square, and his motorcycle was burned.
At least two people were injured and another three arrested. One group of rioting youths smashed paving
stones in front of the central Bank of Greece, but there were no immediate reports of any serious damage.
The rally had been calm before the clashes. Protesters were chanting: 'Don't obey the rich - fight back!'
Lining up: The battle lines in Athens are drawn as the riot police prepare to defend themselves against the angry mob
Fight back: A demonstrator wearing a gas mask kicks away a tear gas canister, which was thrown over by the police
Defiant: The rioters, who are angry and desperate after the government's proposed budget cuts, continued to march near to the Greek parliament
On fire: A policeman tries to beat the fire which is engulfing him (left), while a loud hailer shows flecks on blood - the sign of violent clashes - in front of the Greek parliament
They marched to parliament as the city centre was heavily policed. A brass band, tractors and cyclists joined in.
It was part of Greece's first major labour protest this year as Prime Minister George Papandreou faces
international pressure to make more lasting cuts after the nation's debt-crippled economy was rescued from
bankruptcy by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
Athens riots erupts as Greek protesters set policemen on fire | Mail Online