Greek police fired teargas at rioters shouting "burn parliament" in Athens today but fewer ordinary Greeks turned out for rallies in a sign of weariness with anti-austerity protests, according to Reuters. About 12,000 people joined marches in Athens during a 24-hour strike called by major unions against drastic pension reforms -- down from 50,000 in the biggest protest on May 5 and 25,000 in the latest similar demonstration on May 20. Police used teargas against about 150 hooded protesters yelling "Burn parliament!" who threw sticks, stones, bottles and petrol bombs outside the building, where a committee of lawmakers later began debate about the pension reforms. Parliament is expected to vote on them in coming weeks, and the socialist government is likely to be able to push them through. Seven police officers were hurt and six demonstrators were arrested in scattered clashes. Some shop windows were smashed. Analysts said factors such as summer heat, resignation after a spate of strikes and fears of violence may have kept many away from rallies against cuts imposed to win a 110 billion euro ($134.2 billion) bailout from the European Union and the IMF. "People are getting a little tired, there's a feeling of fatalism that things are going through as the government has no other choice and the opposition has no other proposals," said Theodore Couloumbis, deputy head of Greek think tank ELIAMEP. Some were discouraged by fears of violence after three people died in the May 5 rally, when a bank was fire-bombed. Ilias Vrettakos, a vice president of the main public sector union ADEDY, acknowledged weariness in the fifth strike this year by major public and private sector unions. "Participation...was satisfying, despite the weather conditions, the heat, and the fact that it was the fifth joint strike this year," he said. Analysts say protests might flare up again in the autumn when cutbacks and tax hikes are felt more strongly, together with a projected rise in unemployment and deepening recession.
