Greek PM refuses calls for early election as violence continues

[arikara]

Source: CBC

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Friday ruled out holding an early election as violent confrontations between police and protesters entered their seventh day in the capital city. Karamanlis, who is under increasing pressure to resign and hold a vote over his government's handling of the riots, said the country needed a steady hand during this time of crisis.

...

At least 70 people have been injured and more than 500 businesses damaged in the riots, which began last Saturday after a teenager was shot by police and died. The cost of the destruction is estimated at $265 million US. The situation in Athens appeared to be settling down early Friday, but tensions quickly escalated as protesters shattered windows along the city's central Syntagma Square and the main branch of the National Bank of Greece.

...

Observers have said the growing hostility among Greek youth is being fed by public discontent over low wages, frequent public corruption scandals and a strong historic distrust of government that is rooted in past political upheavals.

...

Protesters, many of them students occupying high schools and universities, are demanding a reversal of public spending cuts, the resignation of the country's interior minister and the release from custody of about 100 arrested riot suspects. "What started as an outburst of rage over Alexandros's killing is now becoming a more organized form of protest," said Petros Constantinou, an organizer with the Socialist Workers Party. More protests, including daily marches and roadblocks, are being planned for next week.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/12/12/greece-protests.html

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They just showed the rioting on CBC noon news as the protesters were busting down the windows of Citibank. They have pushed the people to the breaking point in Greece. I hope it isn't a preview of what's to happen in more places as the string pullers continue with their union busting - race to the bottom for the middle class.

[Renew Deal]

1. One of the Citibank branches is in the same square as the communist party in Pireaus

The are right across from each other.

[ananda]

2. Gawd, what is it with leaders who refuse to see..

.. the handwriting on the wall?

Karamanlis
Blagojevich
Harper
Bush and Cheney
Senate Republicans

etc.

[420inTN]

3. Protestors? Sound more like vandals to me. n/t

[conspirator]

5. No doubt there are some vandals taking advantage, but that's a minor issue.

The most important issue is that the world is not getting better for the majority of people, and you will see a lot of this happening in this century.

[IndianaGreen]

7. The criminals are the government and the police that shot and killed Alexandros Grigoropoulos

A 15-year old young man cut in his prime by the Gestapo tactics of the police.

[The abyss]

4. An Interesting link

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=78348§ionid=351020606


If you are going to control your own population why would you seek assist from outside?

[The abyss]

6. Who benefits?

I remember when the film “Z” broke. What was that mid 60s?

I recall the Cyprus problems, about 63 or so.

Always ask: Cui Bono (Who benefits?)