Minor rioting in downtown Athens

Athens was under heavy guard today, on account of the Eurogroup meeting in the city and protesters were tempted to break police barricades. As a result, there was minor rioting in downtown Athens, with some protesters trying to push the police forces in front of the parliament.

The incidents took place shortly after 7 pm, at the end of the rally organized by workers unions to protest the presence of European finance ministers in Athens for both the Eurogroup meeting today and the ECOFIN meeting tomorrow.

In spite of the ban imposed by the police for protests in the city center, the unions and opposition party SYRIZA gathered in Klafthmonos square and marched to the Zapeion Megaron, where the meetings are being held.

Police forces were lined up in Amerikis street in order to stop the protesters from marching. SYRIZA MPs among the protesters attempted to break the police line, but were told they alone could come through, not the rest of the rally.