John Kolesidis / Reuters

A woman is rescued from floodwaters by a man standing on top of her car during heavy rain in the Chalandri suburb, north of Athens, Greece, on Feb. 22, 2013.

John Kolesidis / Reuters

The woman had become stuck as water engulfed her car.

John Kolesidis / Reuters

The woman is carried to safety after being rescued.

Pantelis Saitas / EPA

An employee of the Greek Parliament hangs precariously after falling through the glass roof of the Greek Parliament Hall while trying to prevent rain water leaking into the building, in Athens on Feb. 22, 2013.

Simela Pantzartzi / EPA

People stand on a bench at a bus station during a heavy storm in Athens on Feb. 22, 2013.

A heavy rainstorm in the Athens region on Friday morning flooded streets in the Greek capital and interrupted transport on land and sea. In the suburb of Chalandri, a woman had to be rescued from her car as raging torrents of water engulfed the vehicle.

A worker at the Greek parliament had to be rescued after she crashed through the glass roof of the building while trying to stop a leak. The woman found herself hanging through a broken panel in the roof and was slightly injured, according to local reports cited by Xinhua.

-- The European Pressphoto Agency and Reuters contributed to this report

Louisa Gouliamaki / AFP - Getty Images

People reach out for a bag of oranges during a free distribution of fruit and vegetables by Greek farmers outside the Agriculture Ministry in Athens, part of a farmers' protest against high production costs on Feb. 6, 2013.

John Kolesidis / Reuters

Athens residents reach out to take fruit and vegetables distributed for free by farmers.

Reuters reports — Hundreds of Greeks scuffled for free vegetables handed out by farmers on Wednesday, leaving one man trampled and injured, and prompting an outcry over the growing desperation created by economic crisis.

Startling images of Greeks struggling to seize bags of tomatoes and leeks thrown from a truck dominated Greek television, triggering a bout of soul-searching over the new depths of poverty in the debt-laden country.

"These images make me angry. Angry for a proud people who have no food to eat, who can't afford to keep warm, who can't make ends meet," said Kostas Barkas, a lawmaker from the leftist Syriza party. Read the full story.

Eurokinissi via Reuters; Greek police via Reuters

A policeman escorts suspected bank robber Nikolaos Romanos near the prosecutor's office in Kozani, northern Greece, left. A mug shot released by police, right, shows Romanos, 20, with significantly less bruising.

Reuters reports — A Greek prosecutor ordered an investigation on Monday into whether four suspected bank robbers were beaten in custody, after police published mug shots that were altered to make their injuries appear less severe.

Rights groups and critics have long accused Greek police of detaining immigrants and other prisoners in shocking conditions.

Photos published in the Greek media of the men, who were aged between 20 and 25 and arrested on Friday, showed them bruised and bleeding while being escorted by police.

But mug shots released by the police over the weekend had injuries missing. One had been altered to remove a purple bruise from beneath the suspect's left eye. In another, black bruises below the suspect's eyes and cheeks appear to have been erased.

Eurokinissi via Reuters; Greek police via Reuters

A policeman escorts suspected bank robber Andreas Bourzoukos in Kozani, left, and the mug shot of Bourzoukos distributed by Greek police, right.

Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias acknowledged the photographs had been tampered with, but defended the decision by saying it was to make the four men recognizable to the public.

"Photoshop was used and I - just like you, just like any reasonable person - asked why was this done," Dendias said on Greek television when asked about the press reports.

"Because if they hadn't been Photoshopped, in order to make them resemble an image that the average person would recognize them in, then the photos wouldn't have been published in the first place." Read the full story.

Petros Giannakouris / AP

Haze of smoke hangs over the city skyline in Athens, early Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013. The cloud is the result of a massive switch to wooden stoves and fireplaces for heating as many households, already hard hit by the economic crisis, can not afford to buy heating oil after the cash-strapped government decided to harmonize taxes on heating oil and diesel fuel, leading to a 40 percent  rise in the price of heating oil.

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Armend Nimani / AFP - Getty Images

Kosovo Albanian youth march under Albanian flags during celebrations for the 100th anniversary of Albania's independence in Pristina, Kosovo, Nov. 28, 2012.

Arben Celi / Reuters

Albania's special army forces march during a parade to celebrate the country's 100th anniversary of independence in Tirana, Nov. 28.

Reuters reports — The foreign minister of neighboring Greece boycotted festivities on Wednesday marking 100 years of Albania's independence after its prime minister hailed a town over the border as "Albanian lands".

Ethnic Albanians from across the region meanwhile celebrated in the national colors of red and black with a 14 ton cake and bushy mustaches to honor the founding fathers.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha's remarks were in a text he sent to a museum on Tuesday evening to mark the 100th anniversary of Albanian independence from Ottoman rule and honor the founder of modern Albania, Ismail Qemali. Full story…

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Gent Shkullaku / AFP - Getty Images

A chef cuts cake measuring 5920 square feet on the main boulevard of Tirana, Albania, Nov. 28.

Arben Celi / Reuters

Children eat cake measuring 5920 square feet prepared for the 100th anniversary of Albania's independence in Tirana, Albania, Nov. 28.

Visar Kryeziu / AP

Kosovo Albanians buys balloons in the main square decorated with Albanian flags in Pristina, Kosovo, Nov. 28.

Petros Giannakouris / AP

A protester waves a Greek flag during a demonstration in front of the parliament in Athens on Wednesday.

Yannis Behrakis / Reuters

Protesters gather in front of the parliament in Syntagma Square in central Athens on Wednesday.

Reuters reports: Protesters gathered near Greece's parliament Wednesday on the second day of a nationwide strike that has halted public transport, shut schools, banks and government offices, and caused garbage to pile up on streets. Backed by the leftist opposition, unions say austerity measures being considered by the Greek government will hit the poor and spare the wealthy, while deepening a five-year recession that has wiped out a fifth of the country's output and driven unemployment to 25 percent. Full Story

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Petros Giannakouris / AP

Protesters shout slogans in front of the parliament in Athens.

Reuters

A protestor throws a Molotov cocktail at riot police during a 48-hour strike by the two major Greek workers unions in central Athens on Nov. 7. Greek police fired teargas and water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters who flooded into the main square before parliament on Wednesday in a massive show of anger against lawmakers due to narrowly pass an austerity package.

Petros Giannakouris / AP

Fire fighters sprays water onto a burning bus ticket kiosk near the parliament, seen in background, during clashes in Athens on Nov. 7. Greece's fragile coalition government faces its toughest test so far when lawmakers vote later Wednesday on new painful austerity measures demanded to keep the country afloat, on the second day of a nationwide general strike. The $17.3 billion package is expected to scrape through Parliament, following a hasty one-day debate. But potential defections could severely weaken the conservative-led coalition formed in June with the intention of keeping Greece in the euro.

Previously on PhotoBlog:

• 'Enough is enough': Striking Greeks clash with police
• Angela Merkel greeted warmly by prime minister, but not by Greeks
• Greek police clash with protesting shipyard workers

Thanassis Stavrakis / AP

Protesters throw petrol bombs at riot police officers during a 24-hour nationwide general strike in Athens on Oct. 18, 2012.

Orestis Panagiotou / EPA

Workers shout slogans in front of the Greek Parliament during a general strike in Athens on October 18, 2012. Greek trade unions called a 24-hour general strike to oppose new austerity measures.

Thanassis Stavrakis / AP

Protesters clash with riot police in Athens on Oct. 18, 2012.

Reuters reports — Greek riot police fired teargas to disperse demonstrators protesting outside parliament on Thursday against a new wave of wage and pension cuts demanded by foreign lenders.

Tens of thousands of Greeks took to the streets in Athens on the day of a general strike that brought much of the country to a standstill. Tensions rose when protesters began hurling petrol bombs and stones at police blocking off parts of the main square before parliament.

"Enough is enough. They've dug our graves, shoved us in and we are waiting for the priest to read the last words," said Konstantinos Balomenos, a 58-year-old worker at a water utility whose wage has been halved to 900 euros and has two unemployed sons. Read more about the background to Thursday's strike.

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Dimitri Messinis / AP

Protestors run away from tear gas during clashes in front of the parliament in Athens on Tuesday Oct. 9, 2012.

Dimitri Messinis / AP

Riot police fight with demonstrators during clashes in front of the parliament in Athens on Tuesday Oct. 9, 2012.

Panagiotis Moschandreou / AFP - Getty Images

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel on October 9, 2012 at the airport in Athens.

Yannis Behrakis / Reuters

People hold a banner saying "Frau Merkel get out" ahead of a demonstration against the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in central Athens, October 9, 2012.

Yannis Behrakis / Reuters

Demonstrators, dressed as Nazis, wave a swastika flag as they ride in an open-top car in Syntagma Square in Athens as they protest against the visit of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, October 9, 2012.

Sakis Mitrolidis / AFP - Getty Images

A man in chains and carrying a wooden cross marked "Greece wake up" walks during a protest against the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Thessaloniki on October 9, 2012.

John Kolesidis / Reuters

A naked protester runs past the parliament in Syntagma Square in Athens during a violent protest against the visit of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel October 9, 2012.

Germany's Angela Merkel arrived in Greece on her first visit since Europe's debt crisis erupted here three years ago, braving protests to deliver a message of support - but no new money - to a nation hammered by recession and fighting to stay in the euro. Athens went into security lock down for the visit as some 50,000 protesters made a show of discontent against painful austerity cuts. 

Story: Global economic slowdown is getting worse

Story: Snipers, commandos to welcome Merkel in Greece

Yannis Behrakis / Reuters

A riot policeman kicks protesters trying to escape arrest during a demonstration in the courtyard of the Defence Ministry in Athens on October 4, 2012.

Louisa Gouliamaki / AFP - Getty Images

Police clash with shipyard workers near the entrance of the Defence Ministry in Athens on October 4, 2012.

Reuters reports — Greek police clashed with protesting shipyard workers who stormed the Defence Ministry complex in Athens on Thursday demanding back pay that they said they were owed.

About 250 workers from the Hellenic Skaramangas shipyard forced their way into the complex by pulling up a shutter and stood in the ministry's grounds chanting "We want solutions, not layoffs!". Read the full story.

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Petros Giannakouris / AP

A riot policeman reacts after he was hit by a petrol bomb thrown by protesters during a nationwide general strike in Athens on Sept. 26. Police clashed with protesters hurling petrol bombs and bottles in central Athens Wednesday after an anti-government rally called as part of a general strike in Greece turned violent.

Louisa Gouliamaki / AFP - Getty Images

Protestors chant slogans in front of the parliament on September 26, 2012 during a 24-hours general strike in Athens. Police in Athens clashed with hooded youths throwing firebombs on the sidelines of a large demonstration against a new round of austerity cuts. AFP PHOTO / LOUISA GOULIAMAKILOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/GettyImages

Aris Messinis / AFP - Getty Images

Demonstrators clash with riot police on Sept. 26 in Athens during clashes with demonstrators at a 24-hour general strike.

By NBC News' Andy Eckardt, CNBC's Julia Chatterley and wire reports

Demonstrators wearing helmets and gas masks and armed with sticks clashed with police in the Greek capital on Wednesday, as a general strike was held to protest the government’s austerity drive.

Riot police fought with the protesters wearing the black clothes favored by anarchist groups for about 45 minutes in the central Syntagma Square, letting off tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd. The demonstrators let off flares and a tent in the center of the square advertising an air show was set on fire. The anarchist group appeared to be trying to cause as much damage in the square as possible. Continue reading.

Related content:

• Spain prepares more austerity, protesters clash with police
• German court backs euro rescue fund
• Greek PM faces tough test in deeply skeptical Germany
• Greek seniors protest pension cuts

Dimitri Messinis / AP

A riot police officer kicks a tear gas canister during clashes in Athens on Sept. 26. Police clashed with protesters hurling petrol bombs and bottles after an anti-government rally called as part of a general strike in Greece turned violent. About 50,000 people joined the union-organized march held during a general strike against new austerity measures planned in the crisis-hit country.

Aris Messinis / AFP - Getty Images

Demonstrators run away from teargas shot by riot police on Sept. 26 in Athens during a 24-hour general strike.

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