Riots in Athens Against Rices' Visit

international | anti-war / imperialism | other press

Tuesday April 25, 2006 12:20

by Paul O'C

Protestors against the visit of Condoleeza Rice to Greece have clashed with riot police in Athens. (Reported through Reuters)

Greek riot police hurled teargas at demonstrators trying to march to the American embassy in Athens to protest against visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Greek riot police hurled teargas at demonstrators trying to march to the American embassy in Athens to protest against visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Police in full riot gear clashed with protesters trying to break through their cordon and police used teargas. The leftist and anti-war activists fired back with sticks, stones and petrol bombs.

Rice is meeting Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and her Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyanni as part of a five-day trip to Europe that also includes Turkey and Bulgaria.

Thousands of protesters, waving banners reading "Rice Go Home", gathered in central Athens vowing to reach the heavily-guarded embassy but most retreated under the teargas.

A small group of self-styled anarchists trailing the march continued clashing with police, burning cars and smashing shop windows. There were no reports of injuries or arrests.

"This is an anti-war rally," said protester Panayiotis Hiundis, 26, a school teacher. "We are not protesting just against Rice, but the imperialist, war-mongering U.S. government."

Greek leftists and peace activists usually protest against visits by senior U.S. officials. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell cancelled a visit to the Athens 2004 Olympics for fear of violent protests.

Although NATO allies for decades, many Greeks are still angry at Washington for backing the far-right military junta that ruled Greece between 1967 and 1974.

On Monday, the Greek Communist Party (KKE) surprised police by managing to hoist a giant poster reading "Condoleezza Rice Go Home" from the central Athens Music Hall, next to the U.S. embassy.

Ahead of the visit, anarchists claimed responsibility for planting several firebombs, burning cars but causing no injuries.

Anti-war and anti-globalisation groups are also participating in the march.

Rice told reporters on the plane to Athens she would discuss the Balkans and ways to end the division of the island of Cyprus, a major stumbling block to Turkey's European Union accession hopes.

Divided among ethnic Greek and Turkish communities since Turkey invaded in 1974, Cyprus has evaded repeated U.N. efforts to re-unite in a federation.

The latest peace plan was rejected by Greek Cypriots, controlling the island's only internationally-recognised government, in a 2004 referendum.

"We also want to have discussions on how to move forward on Cyprus," Rice said. "I think that everybody would like to see that effort get back on track."

KKE said Rice's purpose was to gather support against Iran over its nuclear programme.

"We protest against Rice, who is here seeking allies for a new war against Iran," said Costas Kazakos, a senior KKE member.

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Comments (8 of 8)

What a waste of energy!

by Coillte, and proud of it!

Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:43

There is a gathering movement in the States which is becoming to realise that the support of Israel is costing too much. Now, if Israel falls, Greece and Europe with a forty years falling birth rate will be on a hiding to nothing. One thing is certain, is that the Capitalist world will abandon Europe. Will today’s Anarchist have the stomach for the new battle when they have to answer for the sins of their fathers (i.e. a colonial Europe that terroist the world)? Look up the related link.

Greece: Anarchists in Athens welcome Condoleezza Rice (Photos & Videos)

by @

Fri Apr 28, 2006 03:41

Welcome Condoleezza – A detailed photographic chronicle and videos from the riots in Athens and the quick demo before that which was prohibited by the police.
http://athens.indymedia.org/display.php?articleId=10287

More info can be found at http://athens.indymedia.org/display.php?articleId=10290

Do the IAWM support such violent tactics?

by ...

Wed Apr 26, 2006 16:36

Don't know, but it does help to have the "appearance" of being radical, no?

Curious remarks

by MichaelY - iawm

Wed Apr 26, 2006 15:00

Let us not waste time in arguing about vacuus items. Supporting resistance against the Empire's foreign policy and warmongering is a fundamental bottom line of the anti-war struggle. Here in Ireland, in Britain and mostly everywhere else I know. Whether that resistance takes place in occupied Iraq, Afghanistan or Palestine or whether it is closer home, in whatever form it takes...it has to be understood, put into context and supported. The demonstration in Athens, both in its legalistic and peaceful component (see parties of the Left, Greek ESF etc) or the hooded contingent of the anarchist Left has to be understood and supported.
Which does not, of course, mean that everything Al Zarqaui or Bin Laden or the Sunni LF or Hamas or the Fath Jihad do ....we collectively applaud.....take an example Hamas' condemnation of the recent bombing in Egypt.
Closer home, the iawm will support the defendents of both the Shannon hammer et al incident and the more recent Baldonnel arrests. Whether those militants are 'Thatcher's children' or indeed Kropotkin's or Proudhon's grandchildren is irrelevant. That terrible beauty is only in the eyes of the beholders.
Now, what happened in the past happened and cannot be undone....responsibility for whatever happened lies with the authors (and victims? - lol) of those events. And I am sure they have sturdy shoulders and will carry that responsibility....
So curious, and your friend guy has passed away in the other thread, let us talk about the future of the anti war movement. Let us co-ordinate our views and actions...you seem to have long memories - that's great. It will help all of us plan our tomorrows.

El Greco

by Curious

Wed Apr 26, 2006 14:14

Do the IAWM support such violent tactics? In the past they have even criticised the damaging of fences at Shannon and they disscociated themselves from the disarming of US jets.

Athens Burning

Wed Apr 26, 2006 14:06

Well done lads

Check my short article in Newswire

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75686

Welcome scenes

Condoliza rais not welcome to greece

by enas

Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:53

back in 1999 clinton came in athens...i can assure you that the whole city center took fire, there was a huge demonstration that resulted in a war zone...after that, not an america top politician visited greece.
you can't imagine the atmosphere in such cases...

unfortunately, 3 years after iraq's occupation the anti war movement has fallen significantly all over the world, that's why this f** crow, rais, took the chance to visit athens.

Riots erupt during Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Greece

by rklaer

Tue Apr 25, 2006 20:51

Thousands of people marched the streets of Athens today protesting Condoleezza Rice's visit to Athens
Athens 25/04/06

Thousands of people marched the streets of Athens today protesting Condoleezza Rice's visit to Athens. Several left wing parties as well as a big number of anarchist demonstrators declared that the American secretary of state is not welcome in Greece or any other place in the world for that matter. The Greek government in full cooperation with their honourable ally decided not to allow the protesters to march to the United States' embassy. The left-wing protesters demanded that they'd be allowed to march wherever they pleased and when the police rejected their demand they started charging the police lines using flag poles. The police responded using tremendous amounts of teargas, the crowd started to fold back and the anarchist block took their place. Immediately the clashes became bigger and more violent, dozens of molotov cocktails, as well as, stones, bricks, and crowbars were used to fight off the police. Banks, large department stores and government cars were either torched or destroyed... Some arrests took place with that of 17year old carrying a molotov cocktail being the most serious one.