Athens funeral sparks further riots

Source: Agencies  |   2008-12-10  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

RIOT police fought running battles with mourners in Athens yesterday after the funeral of a teenager whose shooting by officers triggered Greece's worst rioting in decades.

Officers fired heavy amounts tear gas to dispel dozens of youths throwing stones and sticks and setting trash cans on fire. No injuries were reported from the clashes, which started outside the cemetery and spread to a nearby district.

Dozens of local residents gathered on the streets, shouting at police to stop firing tear gas in the residential area.

Some 6,000 people attended the funeral, applauding as 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos' body was carried out of the church in a flower-covered white coffin.

Hundreds of teenagers pelted police with rocks and scuffled with officers in front of Parliament yesterday as Socialist leader George Papandreou called for early elections, saying the government could no longer defend the public from rioters.

The government has a single-seat majority in the 300-member Parliament and opposition parties blame hands-off policing for encouraging the worst rioting the country has seen in decades.

"The government cannot handle this crisis and has lost the trust of the Greek people," Papandreou said. "The best thing it can do is resign and let the people find a solution ... we will protect the public."

The circumstances surrounding Grigoropoulos' shooting are unclear, but the two officers involved have been arrested. One has been charged with murder and the other as an accomplice. A coroner's report shows the boy was shot in the chest.

Schools and universities across Greece were closed and hundreds of teachers, university lecturers and students rallied in central Athens. In the western part of the city, officials said groups of high-school students attacked four police stations but riot police did not respond and no injuries were reported.