Greek protester dies in clashes ahead of key parliamentary vote

A protester died in clashes on Thursday during the second day of a 48-hour general strike and mass mobilizations across Greece, shortly before a critical parliament vote on fresh austerity measures to counter a possible default. A 53-year-old unionist passed away of a heart attack, doctors at "Evangelismos" hospital confirmed to local media. The victim was participating in a peaceful protest in front of the parliament building in central Athens when violent skirmishes between anarchists and anti-riot police erupted on Thursday afternoon. According to the latest information the man, a Greek Communist party member and constructor worker, did not succumb to wounds by hurled stones. But amidst tear gas and petrol bombs hooded rioters pelted against security forces and peaceful demonstrators, he had felt uncomfortable and transferred to the hospital at a short distance from the parliament. He is the fourth victim during a mass rally turning violent since the start of the debt crisis in late 2009. In May 2010 three bank employees died in a fire in central Athens, after anarchists threw petrol bombs into a bank branch near the parliament building. About 50,000 demonstrators flooded the streets on Thursday, as Greek deputies inside the assembly winded up a heated debate over a new set of pay cuts, tax hikes, collective wage amendments and layoffs of thousands of public sector staff, to secure further vital funding by EU/International Monetary Fund lenders, They peacefully denounced the measures for hours, before dozens of rioters deploy across Syntagma square to finish the work of destruction they had started during a similar rally on Wednesday, torching bus stops, smashing windows of hotels, banks and office buildings. According to the latest information from local media, rioters on late Thursday afternoon have reached close to the underground garage of the parliament building, hurling petrol bombs. Media also reported that over 40 people have been injured during the clashes on Thursday that marred once again the peaceful mobilization staged across the country by Left parties and the main labor unions representing public and private sector employees ADEDY and GSEE. "We feel anger. The measures are unfair for our country, that's why people react, because families suffer," Eleni Kaya, a teacher in a public secondary school told Xinhua, as she joined the peaceful rally with her colleagues in front of the parliament ahead of the key vote. As local political analysts expect that the new austerity bill will be eventually approved on Thursday evening, she expressed determination to return to Syntagma square tomorrow and in coming days, defying the violence and the "deaf ears" of politicians. "We will continue to fight for a better future and I believe people will win. This is a message of hope to the whole world- that Greece resists," she stressed. Pantelis Gavriilidis, a young private sector employee, who was waving a banner with anti-austerity slogans a few steps away from Kaya, expressed similar strong resistance to the measures. "We are against privatizations, against paying a single euro from the state debt. Either we sell banks or ourselves. We should nationalize banks. Politicians and bankers have failed," he explained to Xinhua. Gavriilidis feels lucky he is still employed. But with jobless rates on the rise due to heavy recession, he has seen a lot of his colleagues getting fired over the past months. "Now, we have to work double hours for the same salary. People work for months for free hoping that at some point they will get paid their wages. They realized it is time to do something on their own," he said, rushing to chant slogans such as "traitors" in front of the parliament. At the same time Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister was addressing the assembly once again, appealing to deputies to support the austerity package. "This is no time for tests," he stressed to "rebel" ruling socialist PASOK party lawmakers who have expressed objections to certain articles regarding the labor market reform. Up to three deputies had warned that they will vote against the bill in the second and final reading on Thursday evening, arguing that society cannot bear further austerity. The measures were cleared on Wednesday evening in a first reading with 154 positive votes from all ruling party deputies. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou held talks with two of the "dissidents" on Thursday, underlining during a speech at the parliament that "Greece has made a strategic choice to remain member of the euro zone." Up to the last minute at least one lawmaker, former Labour Minister Louka Katseli, still held out. With a four- seat majority in the 300-member assembly, the bill is expected to pass and international lenders are expected to be convinced to continue the support they grant to the debt-laden country since last year. Without the sixth tranche of a multi-billion euro aid in coming weeks, Greece could run out of cash. Greek commentators added that fear of an imminent Greek bankruptcy in November that would spread across the euro zone, will be reduced more effectively if EU leaders reach a comprehensive solution to the Greek debt crisis during a coming summit in Brussels this weekend.