Violent surge as MPs pass reforms law
Protesters clashed with riot police in front of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in central Athens yesterday in some of the worst violence seen during a series of demonstrations against university reforms as government MPs voted the contentious law through Parliament. Some 20 people were injured during the violence that saw suspected anarchists shoot flares and throw rocks and Molotov cocktails at riot police, who responded by firing tear gas at the protesters. During the disturbances, one demonstrator set fire to the wooden guardhouse used by the presidential guard, or Evzones, who stand sentry in front of Parliament. In an extremely rare move, the Evzones were forced to withdraw to their barracks. Authorities said riot police had not been placed around the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in front of Parliament because protesters had never before attacked the presidential guard. PASOK leader George Papandreou said the absence of officers was a blunder and called for Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras to resign. Some 15,000 protesters took part in the march, which began at around 3 p.m. and ended up at Parliament about an hour later. The intermittent clashes between youths and riot police around Syntagma Square lasted until around 7 p.m. Police said they detained 47 people and arrested another 11 suspects. As the clashes took place outside, 164 New Democracy MPs voted in favor of the university reforms bill, thereby making it law. However, with protests set to continue and universities unhappy with some of the provisions, there are still doubts whether the law will ever be enforced. University teachers as well as students are due to meet today to decide how to continue their opposition to the reforms.
