Greek protesters clash with police

Greek protesters are confronted with police (File photo).

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/172447.html

Greek demonstrators, protesting government policies toward the medical community in the capital Athens, have clashed with riot police that used teargas to disperse them.

Doctors were accompanied by university professors, teachers, students and other people in the mass demonstration in an effort to voice discontent with the government's plan to cut spending for education and health care, IRNA reported on Thursday.

The national union of doctors in Greece declared in a statement that Wednesday protests will continue unless the government -- dominated by The Panhellenic Socialist Movement party, better known as PASOK -- reconsiders its policies.

The union also complained that the government intends to merge or reduce the number of some hospitals instead of offering support to doctors that provide minimum-cost medical service for patients.

Nurses and staffers of hospitals in other cities across the country have also said they would walk off work for 24 hours on Thursday to protest the government's economic policies.

According to the report, the Greek government has begun a policy of merging hospitals, schools and other governmental organizations in an attempt to tackle its 400-billion-euro debt. However, nationwide protests against the government's decision continue as the country struggles with a persisting economic crisis.

Earlier reports on Tuesday indicated other clashes between riot police and residents protesting the construction of a landfill in Athens.