Greek police block riot police in anti-austerity protest

[Doktor]

POSTED: THURSDAY, 06 SEPTEMBER 2012 07:23AM
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek police protesting against austerity cuts blocked the entrance to the riot police headquarters on Thursday, preventing buses carrying riot police from leaving for the site of major demonstrations this weekend.

Scuffles broke out as riot police tried to clear the entrance of several dozen police union members - many in uniform - chanting anti-austerity slogans and holding banners.

"They would not let riot police buses depart for Thessaloniki," a police official said, referring to the northern city hosting a weekend trade fair where anti-austerity demonstrations are planned.

Some riot police appeared reluctant to tackle uniformed officers. "They make us fight against our own brothers," said one riot policeman who declined to be named.

The government plans to slash police pay in a new round of spending cuts worth nearly 12 billion euros over the next two years. The savings plan is expected to provoke new street protests in the coming weeks by austerity-weary Greeks fed up with repeated wage and pension cuts.

Police, firefighters and coast guard officers plan to hold a separate protest later on Thursday in central Athens.

(Reporting by Yannis Behrakis and Tatiana Fragou, writing by Deepa Babington, editing by Tim Pearce)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at: Thomson Reuters | Full Legal Notice | Media

[gunnut]

Oh this is getting better and better...:pop:

[omon]

next round, army vs cops.

[zraver]

next round, army vs cops.

Pretty much, when the governments police forces defect the next call is on the army.

[Mihais]

Pretty much, when the governments police forces defect the next call is on the army.

Greek army is one third conscript,including their SOF.As one captain put it in a private conversation,''fuck the politicians and their foreign masters;especially fuck the Germans ''. Army vs cops won't be.It will be army,the cops and the nation vs. the rest of the state.What should have happened nice and clear 3 years ago will happen not very nice and not very clear.

Now,which God will help OUR politicos?Dok,any hint ?

[Doktor]

They don't need help, but we do.

We are in a weird situation, opposition is so toasted and makes so many bad moves, leaving the ruling party to do what they want, which essentially leaves the plebs hopeless. To top of that we are not know for rioting. Starting this month the electricity got 10% up, and 200 people gathered to protest that enough is enough.

If I was the Government, I'd agree to pay them the bills, since only they have the problem.