• Greek riot police clash with protesters in Athens

    msnbc.com news services report from ATHENS, Greece:

    Greek police clashed with protesters trying to block the way into parliament on Wednesday as signs grew that the government would succeed in passing a sweeping austerity plan demanded by international creditors.

    With Greece risking bankruptcy if the measures are blocked, parliament was expected to vote in the afternoon on the mix of spending cuts, tax increases and privatizations to be implemented as conditions for a massive bailout by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Continue reading.

    Aris Messinis / AFP - Getty Images

    A protester shouts in front of riot police during a 48-hour general strike in Athens, Greece, on June 29. Protestors clashed with police, who fired tear gas early on June 29, several hours before the Greek Parliament was to vote on an austerity package.

    Panagiotis Tzamaros / Reuters

    Policemen chase protesters during an anti-austerity rally in Athens on June 29.

    Aris Messinis / AFP - Getty Images

    Protestors clash with riot police in Athens on June 29.

    Panagiotis Tzamaros / Reuters

    Policemen clash with protesters during an anti-austerity rally in Athens on June 29.

    Thanassis Stavrakis / AP

    A riot policeman strikes a demonstrator as protesters try to prevent deputies from reaching the Greek parliament in central Athens on June 29.

    John Kolesidis / Reuters

    A bleeding protester is treated following clashes with the police in Athens on June 29.

    Filippo Monteforte / AFP - Getty Images

    People carry an injured fellow protestor during violent clashes with riot police in front of the Greek Parliament on June 29.

     See more images of recent protests in Greece on PhotoBlog.

     

  • Greek austerity protests turn violent

    Yannis Behrakis / Reuters

    A protester wearing a gas mask walks beside a burning van during violent protests against austerity measures in Athens onTuesday, June 28. With Greece teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, parliament is due to vote this week on a package of spending cuts, tax increases and privatisations agreed as part of a massive bailout aimed at averting the euro zone's first default.

    Louisa Gouliamaki / AFP - Getty Images

    A protestor throws a broken piece of furniture to riot police during clashes at central Athens Syntagma square by the Greek Parliament on Tuesday. Workers staged a 48-hour general strike against the bankruptcy-threatened government which is desperately trying to push through sweeping austerity cuts. As parliament votes on the drastic belt-tightening measures to unlock 12 billion euros ($17 billion) of blocked funds from the EU and IMF, unions have called on Greeks facing hefty tax hikes to stage mass demonstrations.

    Yiorgos Karahalis / Reuters

    A demonstrator jumps to attempt to break a window displaying an image of an ancient greek galley during protests against austerity measures in Athens on Tuesday.

     

    msnbc.com news services reports:

    ATHENS, Greece — Riot police fired tear gas at youths hurling rocks and setting trash bins on fire near the Greek finance ministry Tuesday, trying to quell the anger unleashed by a general strike as parliament debated new cost-cutting measures.

    The latest austerity plan must pass in two parliamentary votes Wednesday and Thursday if Greece is to receive bailout funds from the EU and the IMF that will keep it from becoming the first eurozone nation to default on its debts. Continue reading.

  • Greeks begin general strike in protest at painful cuts

    Alkis Konstantinidis / AFP - Getty Images

    People sit in front of a closed bank in Athens on June 28 during a general strike. Greece ground to a halt on June 28 as a 48-hour general strike began to bite against the bankruptcy-threatened government which is desperately trying to push through sweeping austerity cuts.

    Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP - Getty Images

    Communist-affiliated unionists rally toward the Greek parliament in Athens on June 28.

    Filippo Monteforte / AFP - Getty Images

    A demonstrator stands on a fake gallows set in front of the Greek parliament in Athens on June 28.

    msnbc.com news services report from ATHENS, Greece:

    Thousands of demonstrators began gathering in front of the Greek parliament Tuesday at the start of a two-day strike to protest against painful cuts demanded by international lenders as the price for more financial aid.

    More than 5,000 police were to guard Athens' city center, as protesters hold a rally outside Parliament, chanting anti-austerity slogans. Another demonstration is scheduled to start later in the morning.

    Everyone from doctors and ambulance drivers to casino workers and even actors at a state-funded theater was to join the protest, which is to continue Wednesday. Continue reading.

    See more images of Greece on PhotoBlog.

  • 'Rage and disgust': Thousands protest Greek cuts

    msnbc.com news services report from ATHENS, Greece:

    Greek police deployed in strength Wednesday to prevent thousands of anti-austerity protesters from blockading Parliament, where the struggling government will launch a debate on new unpopular cutbacks needed to secure international rescue loans.

    As a 24-hour general strike got underway, a large part of central Athens was closed to all traffic and pedestrians as police mounted a huge security operation to allow lawmakers access to Parliament by car. Continue reading.

    Pascal Rossignol / Reuters

    Riot police stand guard near the Greek parliament in Athens as the guard of honur march near the monument of the unknown soldier early on June 15.

    Lefteris Pitarakis / AP

    Protesters gesture and wave Greek flags in front of the Parliament during a rally against plans for new austerity measures, in central Athens on June 15. A 24-hour anti-austerity strike by Greece's largest labor unions crippled public services Wednesday, as the Socialist government was to begin a legislative battle to push through last-ditch cost-cutting reforms that will extend beyond its own term in office.

    Panagiotis Tzamaros / AFP - Getty Images

    Riot police confront a protester during a general strike against government austerity plans, in Athens on June 15. Offices were closed and public transport on land and sea across Greece was seriously disrupted early today as a mass general strike got under way.

    Panagiotis Tzamaros / AFP - Getty Images

    Riot police arrest a protester during a general strike against government austerity plans, in Athens on June 15.

     

  • Greeks protest painful austerity measures

    Yannis Behrakis / Reuters

    A vegetable market worker stands beside a police cordon during a protest in front of the labour ministry in Athens, Greece on June 10. Greece's economy shrank far more than expected at the start of 2011, signaling a second wave of austerity measures prescribed by the EU and IMF will pile even more pain on a fractious society.

    Related content:

  • Protesters tear-gassed and arrested in Greece during demonstrations over austerity measures

    Orestis Panagiotou / EPA

    Demonstrators are arrested by riot policemen during violent clashes in Athens, Greece, May 11. Violent clashes broke out in Athens between riot police and protesters who marched to parliament during a nationwide strike against austerity measures.

    Alexandros Vlachos / EPA

    A demonstrator is arrested by riot policemen during violent clashes on May 11 in Athens.

    Milos Bicanski / Getty Images

    A police officer in full riot gear sprays tear gas at a protester's head during clashes on May 11 in Athens, Greece.

    By Phaedra Singelis, NBC News

    I wonder who's side the dog is on in the second photo. The last one isn't very sharp, but I was surprised to see how close the police were to the protesters while spraying tear gas. More on Greece and the economy.

  • Greek protests turn violent

    Thanassis Stavrakis / AP

    A motorcycle policeman burns as his colleague tries to help him after protesters throw a petrol bomb in Athens, Wednesday, Feb. 23. Scores of youths hurled rocks and petrol bombs at riot police after clashes broke out Wednesday during a mass rally taking place as part of a general strike.

    Thanassis Stavrakis / AP

    A motorcycle policeman burns as his colleague tries to help him after protesters throw a petrol bomb in Athens, Wednesday, Feb. 23. Scores of youths hurled rocks and petrol bombs at riot police after clashes broke out Wednesday during a mass rally taking place as part of a general strike.

    Aris Messinis / AFP - Getty Images

    A policeman on fire is helped by a colleague during clashes with demonstrators in central Athens on Feb. 23. Police fired tear gas near the Greek parliament today as clashes broke out with protesters throwing stones and firebombs during a demonstration against austerity measures.

    Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP - Getty Images

    A policeman is seen in flames as he tries to escape after a petrol bomb was thrown at him during riots in front of the parliament in Athens on Feb. 23. Greece is hit with another general strike against austerity as Prime Minister George Papandreou seeks to convince the cash-strapped country's eurozone partners to extend the repayment of a massive rescue loan.

    By John Makely, NBC News

     I hope this officer survived the attack. For more on the story click here.

    Protesters throw fire bombs and clash with riot police in Athens, Greece, following an anti-austerity demonstration. TODAYshow.com's Dara Brown reports.