29 Arrested in Greek riot police, teachers clashes

Greek riot police attack protesting school teachers in the capital Athens on the eve of Independence Day celebrations, making 29 arrests. Scuffles broke out on Saturday just before the start of pupils’ parade, held on the eve of the Independence Day in the capital every year, as the riot police blocked the demonstrators advancing towards the Syntagma Square, Kathimerini, an English-language daily published in Athens, reported. March 25 marks the start of the Greek Revolution in 1821 and the country celebrates the day with a military parade. Authorities have implemented massive security measures over fears that protesters, outraged at the government-applied austerity measures, could disrupt the celebrations. Greece has the highest debt burden in proportion to the size of its economy in the 17-nation eurozone. Despite austerity cuts and bailout funds, the country has been in recession since 2009. Greeks have been protesting against the state’s austerity cuts since early 2011 when the government first implemented the measures. More than 5,000 police officers are to be mobilized in the greater Athens region ahead of Sunday’s celebrations. Public access to the area in front of the parliament, from where politicians and other officials will watch the parades, will be restricted.