Greek Anti-Austerity Strike Turns Violent

Police have fired tear gas outside the Greek parliament as clashes broke out with rioters in a protest against a new wave of austerity measures.

Protesters set garbage bins on fire outside two luxury hotels in central Athens and threw stones at riot police during the union-backed demonstration that attracted some 15,000 participants.

Parliament earlier in the day approved reforms and spending cuts that are a condition of a 110 billion euro ($150 billion) EU/IMF bailout package intended to pull Greece out of its debt crisis.

The cuts include slashing salaries in the country's public utilities, months after civil servants in the broader public sector had also had their wages and pensions cut.

compiled from agency reports