Greek leftists protest against Rice visit

Quote:

ATHENS (Reuters) - Hundreds of Greek leftists marched through central Athens on Monday chanting slogans against a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a foretaste of planned mass action.

The Greek Communist Party (KKE) managed to hoist a giant poster reading "Condoleezza Rice Go Home" from the central Athens Music Hall, right next to the American embassy and in one of the most heavily guarded areas of the Greek capital.

About three hundred protesters marched toward the embassy shouting anti-American slogans but were blocked by police with riot gear from reaching the building. Eight people were held for questioning, police said.

"Rice is not welcome. Her visit is against people's interests. It just heralds evils," the KKE said in a statement.

Rice is due to meet Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and her Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyanni on Tuesday as part of a five-day trip to Europe that also includes Turkey and Bulgaria.

Greek leftists and peace activists usually protest against visits by senior U.S. officials. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell canceled a visit to the Athens 2004 Olympics for fear of violent protests.

Although NATO allies for decades, many Greeks are still angry at Washington for backing the far-right military junta that ruled Greece between 1967 and 1974.

Earlier on Monday, an anarchist group claimed responsibility for fire bomb attacks in Athens, saying they were aimed against Rice's visit.

The anarchist "Anti-State Struggle" group claimed it was behind a bomb blast outside a French carmaker Renault showroom on Monday and a failed attack against a McDonald's fast food outlet at the weekend. The fire bombs damaged cars but caused no injuries.

KKE has planned a mass rally in central Athens at 0700 GMT on Tuesday, followed by a march to the U.S. embassy to protest against Rice and threatened sanctions against Iran for its nuclear programme.

Iran is embroiled in a dispute with the West over its nuclear programme, which the United States says is designed to build bombs. Tehran says it only wants to generate electricity. Washington has not ruled out military action against Iran.

Anti-war groups, opposed to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, also said they planned protests.

Police said they were determined not to allow protesters to come near the embassy.

The Stop the War and Greek Social Forum groups, which said they would hold protests in central Athens, said the visit offended the peace-loving feelings of Greek people.

"We will not let this war hawk visit Greece. We will fight to cancel the visit," Stop the War said in a statement.

Source: http://today.reuters.com/news/articl...id=&cap=&sz=13
http://derstandard.at/ (German)

















Anti-Bush-administration demonstrations are okay, but they really don't have to be that violent like on the 3rd, 4th and 5th picture I posted here.
Not only the leftist, but also, as far as i know, a great majority of all Greeks down there have also an anti-American attitude, but they are much more moderate.

But anyway...


Jam it back in, in the dark.