Three people have suffocated to death as a result of a fire in Marfin Bank during ongoing battles between anti - measure protesters and police in Athens .
police
people suffocate death result fire marfin bank ongoing battle anti measure protester police athens
Three people have suffocated to death as a result of a fire in Marfin Bank during ongoing battles between anti - measure protesters and <m> police </m> in Athens .
http : / / libcom . org / news / war - zone - athens - three - people - dead - many - buildings - burning - general - strike - march - turns - battle -
War - Zone Athens : three people dead , many buildings burning as general strike march turns into a battle
May 5 2010 15 : 14
Three people have suffocated to death as a result of a fire in Marfin Bank during ongoing battles between anti - measure protesters and <m> police </m> in Athens .
The Athens protest march marking the zenith of the general strike called for the 5th of May was attended by an approximate 200 , 000 ( 20 , 000 which is the foreign broadcast number referring to the PAME march alone ) , although because of lack of media coverage due to the media participation in the general strike no concrete estimates can be made .
After the PAME ( Communist Party union ) protesters left Syntagma square , the first lines of the main march started arriving before the Parliament with the first clashes erupting at the end of Stadiou street .
The march then walked on the Unknown Soldier grounds leading the Presidential Guard to retreat , and attempted to storm the Parliament but was pushed back by riot police forces which today demonstrated a particularly staunch attitude and resolve against the demonstrators .
Soon battles erupted around the Parliament with protesters throwing Molotov cocktails and rocks , with one riot police armored van torched , and the police responding by extended use of tear gas that soon made Athens' atmosphere unbearably acrid .
As more blocks reached Syntagma square , the battles spread across the city center and lasted for more than five hours .
During the clashes several state buildings were set ablaze including the County Headquarters of Attika .
At the time of writing the Ministry of Finance is reported to be on fire , and vital tax documents as destroyed by the raging fire .
However the strange thing is that it is the fourth floor of the building that is burning , at a height inapproachable to petrol bombs .
The building is in danger of total collapse .
According to news reports that began at 14 : 00 Greek time after , under pressure by the events , most radio and TV stations decided to break their strike , claim that the fire at Marfin Bank's Stadiou street branch that has led to the death of three workers ( one a pregnant woman ) was started by protesters .
However this remains an unsubstantiated claim .
A similar case three decades ago had originally put the blame for the fire at Kappa - Marousi building on Panepistimiou street , leading to the death of several people inside , to anarchists , while its was later proved the fire was caused by tear gas fired by the police .
After the tragic death of the three workers made the round of Athens , new clashes started to spread in the Greek capital , with a large crowd gathered outside the burned bank when Marfin's boss tried to visit the site .
Clashes broke out between the crowd and police when the former attacked the bank magnate accusing him of forcing the dead workers to scab on a general strike and locking them in the building despite them demanding to evacuate it since 12 : 00 .
In Parliament the Communist Party of Greece has accused the government for the deaths , claiming it was a result of agents provocateur fascist groups .
The claims of the Communist Party are based on the fact that 50 fascists tried to enter the PAME demo bearing the flags of the union earlier in the morning .
The fascists were spotted , chased and sought refuge behind riot police lines .
Accusing the extreme - right as being behind the deaths , the Coalition of Radical Left has declared in Parliament that the government cannot pretend to be in grief for the loss of life , as it has been attacking human life by all means possible .
Meanwhile , extended clashes broke out in Salonika where approximately 50 , 000 people marched destroying dozens of banks and corporate shops in Greece's second largest city .
Clashes with the police continued for several hours .
According to news broadcasts anarchist have occupied the Labour Center of the city .
In Patras , around 20 , 000 protesters were joined by tractor drivers and garbage truck drivers on their vehicles , as flaming barricades were erected along central streets of the city and clashes developed between protestors and the police .
In Ioannina the protesters attacked banks and corporate shops leading to extended use of chemicals by the police .
In Heraklion , 10 , 000 people are reported as marching against the measures .
In Corfu , protesters taking part in the anti - measures march occupied the County Headquarters .
Protesters have occupied the Administrative Headquarters of Naxos and the City Hall of Naoussa .
As a result of the Athens riots , the police have cordoned off the entire center of the city , erecting check points of entry and exit , while all police work permits have been recalled .
At the time of writing battles continue to rage in the inner city , while news broadcasts claim the police is mobilising its forces to storm an anarchist squat in Exarcheia .