Police Fire Tear Gas At Greek Farmers
Riot police on the island of Crete fired tear gas at farmers on Sunday to prevent them from driving their tractors from the Greek port of Piraeus to the capital as part of a protest demanding government financial help. At least two people were injured in the clashes.
The farmers arrived in Piraeus on overnight ferry boats from Crete with dozens of tractors, pick-up trucks and other agricultural vehicles they intended to drive through Athens to the Agriculture Ministry. But Greek authorities had said they would only be allowed to carry out a demonstration on foot, not with vehicles that would snarl traffic in the capital.
A group of farmers, black flags fluttering from their tractors, attempted to break through the police lines inside the port, and riot police fired tear gas to push them back. A photographer said at least two people – a woman who was with the protesters and was struck by an agricultural vehicle, and one man - were injured.
The tense stand-off at the port is the latest twist in nearly two weeks of protests by Greek farmers, who had used their tractors to block border crossings and highways across the country. They are protesting low prices for their products and demanding financial help from the government.
The farmers arrived in Piraeus on overnight ferry boats from Crete with dozens of tractors, pick-up trucks and other agricultural vehicles they intended to drive through Athens to the Agriculture Ministry. But Greek authorities had said they would only be allowed to carry out a demonstration on foot, not with vehicles that would snarl traffic in the capital.
A group of farmers, black flags fluttering from their tractors, attempted to break through the police lines inside the port, and riot police fired tear gas to push them back. A photographer said at least two people – a woman who was with the protesters and was struck by an agricultural vehicle, and one man - were injured.
The tense stand-off at the port is the latest twist in nearly two weeks of protests by Greek farmers, who had used their tractors to block border crossings and highways across the country. They are protesting low prices for their products and demanding financial help from the government.