EU TERROR: Riots greet Blair in Athens...(Iraq war protest ...EU Summit - Greece)

The Drudge Report ^ | Wednesday 16th April 2003 | Ananova news service

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

A policeman has been set on fire as anti-Iraq war protests erupted into a riot outside the EU summit in Athens.

Around 30 demonstrators were arrested after a mob broke away from a peaceful anti-war rally of 5,000 people and attacked police in the Greek capital.

Police responded by firing tear gas and chasing hooded protesters though the narrow streets.

Another group of protesters threw red paint at riot police, about 300 metres away from where leaders from across Europe gathered to confirm the enlargement of the group.

Demonstrators set fire to banks in central Athens and smashed windows.

Outside the British Embassy, youths tore up paving stones and hurled them at police guarding the building. A large banner reading "Killers, Imperialists" was hung over the offices of British Airways.

Political commentators say the violence will embarrass Greece's Socialist government, which is midway through an EU presidency already troubled by Europe's divisions over the Iraq war.

Rally organisers targeted their anger at Tony Blair, Spain's premier Jose Maria Aznar and other EU prime ministers who supported the war in Iraq.

Story filed: 16:16 Wednesday 16th April 2003

[Shermy]

Ping.

[Druidstl]

Nice "Peace" rally.

[Right Wing Professor]

a mob broke away from a peaceful anti-war rally of 5,000 people and attacked police in the Greek capital.

... Another group of protesters threw red paint at riot police

... Demonstrators set fire to banks in central Athens and smashed windows

... Outside the British Embassy, youths tore up paving stones and hurled them at police guarding the building

Well, let's just be thankful it was a peaceful rally.

[Steven W.]

This is an outrage! How could the EU ALLOW this to happen? This is total anarchy! Certainly we were sure to believe that the citizens of the EU were far more civilized than those uncivilized Iraqi looters because the EU types said so and asserted their vast superiority over such things just last week. Now, here they are, demonstrating such behavior. What are we to believe?

[trebb]

Of course it was a peaceful anti-war rally, is there any other kind? Will we see any reporters asking Rumsfeld about the rioting/looting in the streets of Greece? If these are peaceniks, I'd hate to see what they consider violent warmongers. Maybe it just goes with the territory of having a "Style" named after you that implies needing toilet paper for your wee-wee.

[FeliciaCat]

I thought Europeans were supposed to the "civilised" and "tolerant" people?????

[JulieRNR21]

WOW...the peace rioters give the police no peace!

[Billthedrill]

The Greek government was said to be "surprised" at the looting...

[JulieRNR21]

The Europeans, it seems, are always complaining about the 'violence' in USA.....while their 'peace riots' have been the most violent!

[lawnguy]

I gotta believe Tony Blair is reconsidering this whole EU thing. Old Europe is coming unglued.

[Destro]

Oh my gawd, Dudes!! It's Seattle minus the WASPy demonstrators all over again! Someone should take thses Greeks to WATTS and show them what a real riot is like!

[Destro]

Oh my gawd, Dudes!! It's Seattle minus the WASPy demonstrators all over again! Someone should take thses Greeks to LA's Watts and show them what a real riot is like!

I would also insert Seol, South Korea as a replacement for Watts.

[kimosabe31]

bump

[FeliciaCat]

Yet, it perfectly acceptable to these weenies to riot and kill people over a soccer game. Go figure.

[eleni121]

The Left wing Greek communo/anarchists have been around for many years and they keep spawning their replacements. Their mentors are the Stalinist thugs who decimated the Greek countryside during the Civil war in the 40's. The invasion of Cyprus by fellow NATO Turks did not endear Greeks to the US either. Elements in the government (socialist) protect them and the media are raving lunatics with a rabid yellow press constantly provoking the loony left wing.

Greece is an absolutely beautiful land but a depressing leftist miasma hangs over the Greeks. So sad. As far as I'm concerned my ancestors did well to get out.

[a_Turk]

Give the poor persecuted Greeks a break..

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Ouch, that's gotta hurt. Gives hotfoot a whole new meaning.

[ScholarWarrior]

Just goes to show that there is no shortage of stupidity in the gene pool.

[libsrscum]

Can't wait for the Olympic peace rallies... oughta be interesting...