Protesters threw rocks and firebombs at riot police officers guarding the Greek parliament building during a protest march through central Athens on Wednesday. Police retorted by firing tear gas on the masked protesters while others continued to walk towards the parliament. Doctors, lawyers, pharmacists, teachers, public transport employees and sailors were among those who took part in the march as part of a general strike held by the country s two main unions, the public sector ADEDY and the private sector GSEE. The professionals and workers were joined by students and farmers, who drove their tractors, in the march through Athens main streets to the Greek parliament building. Greece has been pushing through further reforms this year to reduce its debt, including wage cuts, job transfers and restructuring in the public health and transport sectors. Reforms are also expected in public education, while professions including lawyers and pharmacists are being liberalized. Shop owners kept their shutters down in protest over the loss of business as the measures have affected consumer spending. Measures already implemented in 2010 that have also angered workers include wage and pension bonus cuts and the termination of temporary work contracts in the public sector, and increased taxes on goods. The government is also struggling to crack down heavily on widespread tax evasion, one of the state s biggest obstacles to revenue collection and a priority for 2011. It must cut its spending further this year to meet targets set by the EU and the IMF in return for a rescue package that saved it from bankruptcy in May.
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