Greek riots

Nikos Romanos, a 31-year-old self-proclaimed anarchist, who was arrested by Greece's Counter-Terrorism Police on Monday while returning to his home in the northern Athens suburb of Neo Psychiko, has been granted time to testify on Friday in relation to the October 31 explosion at a third-floor apartment in the Ambelokipi neighborhood of central Athens.

In a revealing interview with Antonis Sroiter on “First Word” by Protothema.gr, well-known criminal lawyer Alexis Kougias opened up about his long career, major cases, personal challenges, and thoughts on life and the legal profession.

A brief clash between protesters and police in Syntagma Square early Saturday afternoon resulted in 33 people being detained, police said. 

Former police officer Epaminondas Korkoneas was arrested and sent back to prison Saturday.

The arrest followed the Supreme Court's rejection of an appeals court decision that had reduced his life sentence for killing a 15-year-old while on duty to 13 years based on lack of prior criminal record.

It was the second time the high court had nullified the appeals court's verdict.

Epaminondas Korkoneas, the cop who murdered 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos on December 6, 2008, setting off a near month of riots in Athens and several other Greek cities, will face yet another trial after the Supreme Court threw out an appeals court decision reducing his initial life sentence because of lack of criminal record up to that event.

Pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with police in Athens Tuesday, when some among the 1,000-odd crowd attempted to scale the gates of the Egyptian embassy, at the capital's Syntagma Square.

Riot police used batons, tear gas and flashbang grenades to push back the protesters and the formed a line in front of the embassy.

Police clashed late Wednesday with Communist-backed demonstrators who tried to prevent a concert by U.S. military cadets.

The violent protest occurred in the central Greek city of Larissa ahead of a concert by members of the West Point Glee Club, a musical group of the U.S. Military Academy which is currently on tour 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.

Demonstrators painted the names of the 57 victims of the Tempe train tragedy in red outside the Greek parliament in downtown Athens on Wednesday, marking the anniversary of the country's deadliest train crash. Following the march, violent clashes erupted between protesters and police.

Lawyers in Athens announced a walkout on Thursday, when Parliament is set to pass the new Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure. 

A protest rally is also planned in Athens on Friday by the Bar Associations of Greece regarding the financial demands of the sector.