Greek police use tear gas to break up anti-government march - Thessaloniki, Greece

Greek police use tear gas to break up anti-government march - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Yesterday's general strike in Greece shut down much of the country's infrastructure and was accompanied by protests marches nationwide. In Athens organiser said that turnout was over 100,000 and in the northern port city of Thessaloniki between 15,000 and 20,000 too part in anti-austerity demonstrations.

The police in Thessaloniki used tear gas, clubs, flash grenades to break up the march after anarchist groups started smashing windows and tearing down bank security cameras. However, the riot units concentrated their attention on leftist groups not involved in acts of vandalism, attacking trade unionists and members of left wing groups along the length of the central Tsimiski Boulevard..

The police also used motorcyle units to chase and intimidate marchers in scenes remininscent of the unrest that followed the re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Clashes continued later when groups attacked the Ano Poli police station when rocks and Molotov bombs.

For more pictures check out my story on Demotix.