Anti-austerity movement in Greece

A student protest in Athens against a bill that would allow the establishment of branches of foreign universities in Greece for the first time has turned violent.

Around 8,000 people are estimated to be participating in the city center protest, while police have so far made nine arrests.

The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon in Syntagma Square

Tensions broke out between police and university students protesting in main Syntagma square in Athens on Thursday.

Protesters were demonstrating against government plans to legislate the establishment of private universities in the country.

A group of students clashed with police, which replied with the use of teargas.

Tens of thousands of people marched in Athens and cities across Greece on Wednesday to protest the deaths of 57 people in the country's worst train disaster , which exposed significant rail safety deficiencies.

Angry educators clashed briefly with riot police during a demonstration outside Parliament in Athens on Friday that coincided with a visit to Greece by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Police officers shouted slogans during an anti-austerity rally by members of the force in front of the White Tower in Thessaloniki on Friday - a day before the opening of the annual Thessaloniki International Fair by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

The demonstration was attended by police, firefighters and port authority officials from all over Greece.

Alexis Tsipras grew into a political force inside the anti-memorandum movement and by siding with the so-called Indignant anti-austerity protesters who demonstrated in Syntagma Square in 2011. His vocal champions at the time are the same people who are putting the prime minister through the wringer today because of his position on the name talks with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Ferry services in Greece were halted for 24 hours on Jan. 12 as unions stepped up protests against a new austerity bill that will limit the right to strike and speed up property foreclosures.

Greek riot police in central Athens have fired tear gas at protesting youths as anti-austerity protests turned violent, according to Ekathimerini.

Several dozen protesters hurled rocks and fired flares at police outside Parliament after peaceful marches involving around 12,000 people ended.

Nearby, protesting police officers blocked the entrance to a Finance Ministry building.

Two more labor unions said Thursday that they will take part in a general strike on May 17. They are the Hellenic Federation of Private Sector Employees (OIYE) and the Public Hospital Workers Union (POEDIN).

The strike is being held to express dissatisfaction with the latest austerity measures agreed by the government and the country's creditors.