Man dies during Athens anti-austerity rally

One protester died of heart attack during clashes which broke out on Thursday in the center of Athens at the end of an anti-austerity rally organized by trade unions and opposition parties, local media reported. According to early information, the 65 year old man fell unconscious when young Greeks started to scuffle with police, who in turn fired tear gas. He was transferred to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed. The victim has been unemployed since 2006 and participated in the march held by Greek Communist party (KKE) members. Tens of thousands recession-hit protesters took to the streets of Athens on Thursday to denounce austerity, as the government negotiates more cutbacks on salaries and tax hikes in return of further loans under bailout agreements, needed to stave off a catastrophic default. According to police sources, three other people were slightly injured and about 50 were apprehended. In a similar incident a year ago, a 53 year old protester who was also a KKE member and unemployed construction worker, also died of a heart attack during a mass anti-austerity demonstration. In May 2010, three employees died of suffocation when a bank branch building was set on fire by anarchists during the first mass mobilizations against the austerity drive imposed to tackle the Greek debt crisis.