Greek riot police on Tuesday had to use tear gas against a group of protestors in downtown Athens, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
Tear gas was used after a group of young people hurled stones at police outside the Greek parliament building, where lawmakers are to debate the adoption of an unpopular austerity plan. A minibus was also seen burning in an adjacent street.
Up to 5,000 police were deployed in downtown Athens as Greek lawmakers gathered to discuss whether to introduce of austerity measures in exchange for a much-needed $17 billion tranche of the $156 billion EU and IMF bailout package.
A 48-hour general strike began in Greece earlier in the day to protest against the possible adoption of the program.