NEWS

Gov’t orders no more tear gas at rallies after incident with pensioners

Gov’t orders no more tear gas at rallies after incident with pensioners

The Citizens' Protection Ministry on Monday said it had issued an order that police no longer fire tear gas during demonstrations by workers and pensioners following a rally by retirees in central Athens where officers tear-gassed protesters.

The ministry's announcement was issued following an intervention by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in the wake of Monday's rally, according to sources in the premier's office.

Around 1,500 retirees had taken to the streets of Athens earlier to protest the latest round of cuts to pensions. When the crowd of pensioners tried to push past police and march to Tsipras's official residence, police fired tear gas.

The protesters reacted angrily, rocking a riot police bus that was blocking the road leading to Tsipras's residence.

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