Trade unions and student organisations in Greece on Wednesday staged a nationwide strike and demonstration over the rising cost of living and demanded greater investment in public education
According to media report, around 3,000 police officers are due to be deployed in Athens alone, in an effort to prevent unrest similar to that seen in several other European cities
School and university students set up tents in Syntagma Square, outside the Greek parliament in Athens, as part of their protest
The students are demanding lower rents, higher housing subsidies, more student accommodation and additional teaching staff
Public sector workers are also staging walkouts following a call by the ADEDY trade union confederation
The union said the action was intended to show solidarity with the education protests and allow employees, including parents, to take part in demonstrations and rallies
France, the eurozone’s second-largest economy, was rocked on Saturday by some of its worst rioting in recent years, with demonstrators protesting against the high cost of living
Other European countries have also seen demonstrations over rising prices, with smaller clashes breaking out in Milan, Italy’s financial centre, and Belgium over the weekend (dpa/NAN)