Deadly Riots & Strike In Greece, Athens In Chaos

Locations in this article:  Athens, Greece

Athens Acropolis - Deadly Riots & Strike in Greece, Athens in ChaosStrikes in Greece turned deadly on Wednesday as three people were killed in a bank fire set by protesters. The victims died in a central Athens branch of the Marfin Bank that was set ablaze with gasoline bombs.

The violence today was part of a 24-hour general strike that has flooded the streets of Athens with thousands of protesters and paralyzed flights, ferries, schools, and hospitals in the city.

The Acropolis and other ancient sites in Greece have also been shut down, threatening the government’s recently pronounced goals to boost tourism to the country.

The Parthenon, Athens, GreeceThe strikes follow the announcement by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou of several unpopular new austerity measures as his government attempts to cut its deficit and adhere to the conditions of a joint European Union-IMF bailout.

The measure includes a second set of wage cuts and a three-year pension freeze for public workers. Sales taxes and the prices of fuel, alcohol and tobacco are also being increased for the second time this year.

The feeling that ordinary people are being made to pay for the crisis has led to the blackening mood in Athens, especially since rampant tax evasion and corruption continues to go unchecked.

Some 20,000 people are expected to demonstrate today, leaving hospitals running with skeleton staffs, ferry services at a standstill, and shops in Athens vacant.

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All flights to and from Greece have also been canceled during the 24-hour general strike as air-traffic controllers have walk off the job. All flights at Athens International Airport, the country’s major airport, have been canceled. Airspace is not expected to be opened again until 10 p.m. tonight.

Santorini Greece - Greek IslesThe shutdown of services has undermined Prime Minister Papandreou’s pledge last month to boost the Greek tourism industry in the national economy.

In a speech to the Association of Greek Tourism in April, Papandreou set in motion plans to eliminate landing and take-off fee in smaller Greek airports, to attract low-cost carriers and charters.

Rules that restrict foreign-owned cruise ships from operating across the Greek islands will also be lifted.

Tourism in Greece represents 17 to 18 percent of the country’s GDP and employs more than 850,000 people. There is no official estimate yet on how much the service disruptions will cost Greek tourism.

By Adriana Padilla for PeterGreenberg.com.

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