Job seeker. Thessaloniki, Greece

Job seeker. Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Thousands of people have thronged Thessaloniki (Greece's second largest city) city hall in order to apply for one of 900 jobs as road cleaners. Applicants include people with professional qualificatiosn such as architects and civil engineers according to local TV channels who interviewed those queing this morning.

While Athens says that unemployment nationwide is 14.9% trade unions and opposition parties claim that the figure is much higher, especially in the north which has seen much of its industrial base close down or move to neighbouring Balkan countries.

According to the latest Eurostate figures the Greek economy shrank at an annual rate of 6.6% in the last quarter of 2010, up from the 5.7% recorded in the third quarter.

Greek protesters chain themselves to government building in solidarity with 300 immigrants hunger strikers - Thessaloniki, Greece,

Greek protesters chain themselves to government building in solidarity with 300 immigrants hunger strikers - Thessaloniki, Greece,, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

As the hunger strike by 300 immigrants in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece enters a critical phases dozens of supporters chained themselves to government buildings in the country's second largest city, Thessaloniki in a show of solidarity.

With the protest in its second month more than 78 of the participants have already been hospitalised and doctors treating the remainder warn that unless the strike ends immediately those taking part run the risk of permanent damage to vital organs. As of Sunday hunger strikers also decided to stop taking the salt and sugar solutions. Protesters also hung banners saying "The Papandreou government kills" from the balcony of the ex-Ministry of Northern Greece.

In Athens where 250 of the 300 immigrants are based Greek riot police broke up a press conference organised by human rights groups supporting the demands of the immigrants for legal residence papers.which was due to be held outside parliament.

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Occupying army - Thessaloniki, Greece

Occupying army - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Taken during Greek riot police assault on marchers taking part in anti-government protest on February 23rd 2011.

There are moments when you cover a tense situation when the lines and boundaries and for a few brief moments you can move freely as a photographer from one side to the other. On the other the fluidity of these moments is also dangerous as you have to be aware of the possibility of attack from any angle.