Tens of thousands join nationwide Greek anti-austerity protests
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Anti-austerity protesters march through Athens' central Syntagma square during a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013. Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Members of a Greek Communist trade union demonstrate in Athens on Feb 20, 2013. Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A member of a Greek Communist trade union shouts slogans in Athens on Feb 20, 2013. Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Members of pro-communist union PAME gather during a protest in Athens on Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013. Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year. -- PHOTO: AP
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Protesters gather during a protest in Athens on Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013. Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year. -- PHOTO: AP
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Members of pro-communist union PAME gather outside Greece's parliament during a protest in Athens on Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013. Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year. -- PHOTO: AP
Anti-austerity protesters march through Athens' central Syntagma square during a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013. Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Members of a Greek Communist trade union demonstrate in Athens on Feb 20, 2013. Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year. -- PHOTO: AFP
A member of a Greek Communist trade union shouts slogans in Athens on Feb 20, 2013. Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year. -- PHOTO: AFP
Members of pro-communist union PAME gather during a protest in Athens on Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013. Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year. -- PHOTO: AP
Protesters gather during a protest in Athens on Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013. Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year. -- PHOTO: AP
Members of pro-communist union PAME gather outside Greece's parliament during a protest in Athens on Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013. Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year. -- PHOTO: AP
ATHENS (AFP) - Thousands of Greeks joined new anti-austerity protests on Wednesday, causing massive disruption to flights, ferries and hospital services in the debt-ridden country's first general strike this year.
About 15,000 protesters took part in a Communist-organised demonstration in Athens and 20,000 more joined protests organised by other unions, according to police figures.
Another 15,000 people marched in Greece's northern metropolis Thessaloniki, local authorities said.
The nationwide strike - the first general work stoppage in Greece this year - forced airport authorities to scrap or reschedule dozens of flights while hospitals operated on reduced staffing.
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